Kasch 1

Ryan Kasch
Mr. Holton
Humanities
2 October 2015
Mans Greatest Gift: Choice
Timshel. The central point of John Steinbecks epic novel, East of Eden. John Steinbeck
was born in 1902 in Salinas, California, the setting of most of his novels. He had many great
works, including the Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, in addition to East of Eden. The
major theme of East of Eden is the conflict in life between good and evil, and if we have a choice
in what we choose. Through the word timshel and the lives of the major characters of East of
Eden, Steinbeck shows that people do have a choice in life.
Steinbeck shows this through the epic tale of timshel, and the importance the word holds
in the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel. The importance of the word timshel can not be understated.
However, the importance is not immediately taken the story it comes from. The story is initially
brought about when they are debating Adams kids names. Of course. Your first born--Cain and
Abel. Adam said, Oh no, we can not do that. I know we cant. That would be too tempting
whatever fate there is. But isnt it odd that Cain is probably the best known name in the world
and as far as I know only one man has ever borne it. (Steinbeck 266) This leads to Lees later
actions in the story and opens up the debate of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, a story which
is itself repeated twice in the story. It occurs in the first generation of the Trask family with
Adam and Charles, and in the second generation with Aron and Caleb.
This part of the story is a nice lead in to the more important conversation between Lee,
Adam and Samuel. A close to fully mentally recovered Adam discusses with Samuel one last

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time, as Samuels favorite daughter has died and Sam has lost the will to live. Lee had debated
with Chinese wise men over Genesis and discovered a word that greatly impacts the story.
Lees hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. Dont
you see? he cried. The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin,
and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in Thou
shalt, meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word
timshelThou mayest that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the
world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if Thou
mayestit is also true that Thou mayest not. Dont you see? (Steinbeck 303)
This quote impacts the book in multiple ways. Firstly it in itself is an example of the free choice
of man, but it also impacts all that follows. Adams and Cals confrontations with Cathy would
not have happened without this conversation. It also allows for Adams blessing of Cal with
choice at the end of the book using it. Timshel.
The characters in East of Eden often provide examples of the free choice of humans,
using the characters situations as supporting evidence. Cathy is an interesting character in East of
Eden, as Steinbeck constantly relooks at her, but her most important description is her first. And
just as there are physical monsters, can there not be mental or psychic monster born? The face
and body may be perfect, but if a twisted gene or malformed egg can produce physical monsters,
may not the same process produce a malformed soul? (Steinbeck 72) While most of the other
characters are given reasons for their actions, the explanation for Cathys action is just left at the
excuse that she is evil. However, even she has a bit of redemption, with her will giving her
money to her son Aron.

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However, a common point in the story is the taint that the Trasks suffer from due to the
money that Cyrus procured illegally, and also from Cathys sinfulness. However, both Cal and
Adam confront the evil taint in the form of Cathy. Cal reason to fear is that people like Abra
wonder about him. Do you go--to--bad houses. Yes, he said. Thats true. Did Aron tell
you? No, not Aron. Why do you go there? Tell me, she said. Whats it to you? Is it
because youre bad? Whats it sound like to you? Im not good either, she said. Aron will
knock that out of you. Do you think it will? Why sure, hes got to. (Steinbeck 500) While
even Abra sees this in him, later Cal confronts Cathy and overcomes her by accepting the fact
that there is bad in him, but through timshel he has the choice in whether to be good or bad.
Adams confrontation with Cathy is also very significant to the story, and occurs directly
after the discussion on timshel. Samuel tells him of Cathy as his form of a last want from Adam,
as after he tells him he leaves for good, and Adam attending Samuels funeral is when he goes
and see Cathy for his final meeting with her. I can do anything, she said. And now my love,
take off your clothes. It wouldnt matter even if it were true, he said. It wouldnt matter at
all. Kate called, Adam! He turned slowly. He smiled at her as a man might smile at a
memory. Then he went out and closed the door gently behind him. (Steinbeck 326) With this
situation, Adam chooses to confront the image he had created of a sinless, perfect Cathy, and
realizes that she never existed, and that he was now free to live his own life by his own choices.
He was free from the tyranny he had put upon himself and could make decisions based on what
he wanted. With the different characters of Steinbecks story, and how the different characters are
able to choose what they want to do with their lives, Steinbeck shows that man has the choice of
making good or bad decisions.

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Through Steinbecks novel East of Eden we are able to see that we all have freedom of
choice. The lesson of East of Eden are major to all of mankind. We are not railroaded in our
lives. To quote Lee But Thou mayest! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature
with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he still has great
choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win. Lees voice was a chant of
triumph. (Steinbeck 303) And that is the triumph of mankind. Choice.

Works Cited
Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York: Viking, 1952. Print.