In John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, a symbolic recurrence is a large inheritance and wealth. In each case, however, the money is not gained through honorable actions, such as deceit, theft, and prostitution. The wealth passed down symbolizes original sin, a type of evil that is passed down to each offspring through the generations. In addition, the large inheritances are the core of the battle between good and evil. Throughout the novel, the same wealth is passed down through three generations, and each generation faces similar conflicts.
The wealth originates with Cyrus Trask, Adam and Charles Trask’s father. Throughout his career in the army, he dishonorably gains over $100,000 which is divided amongst his two sons. After his death, the sons discover their inheritance, but only Adam seriously questions where the money actually came from. Both of the sons do take their own share, which foreshadows their tainted lifestyle. However, Adam’s questioning could also mean that he is aware of the choice that all men face—a good life versus a bad life. Unfortunately, he chooses wrong and must suffer through a loveless marriage and miss the growth of his twin sons. In addition, Cyrus Trask favors Adam over Charles would also signifies that Adam must live with a higher influence of evil despite his knowledge of the choice. Although Charles acts as an evil character, he is not influenced by his father’s taint and filth, so it is easier for him to move on and accumulate his own fortune on the ranch until he died suddenly at a younger age. The concept of original sin is passed down through the generations through both sons because each son chooses to accept the tainted wealth which, therefore, taints their own lifestyle.
The wealth continues to be passed down after Charles’ death; he leaves his own fortune to Adam and his wife, Cathy. Adam must face the choice between good and evil once more, and he tries to overcome evil by spending his entire share on a refrigeration company, which ultimately fails. He makes it clear, however, that he does not make the investment to make a profit; instead, he only tries to get rid of the inheritance. In addition, Adam does not try to steal Cathy’s share of the inheritance, even though they are separated and he does not understand why Charles has left half of his wealth to her. By choosing to confront Cathy about her inheritance, he is overcoming the temptation of evil. While Adam tries to rid himself of the burden of the inheritance, Cathy takes advantage of an arisen opportunity. Beginning with her inheritance, she takes over a “bad house” and creates her own fortune. She must constantly live with the burden of sin, although she tried to start her life anew. Cathy is an example of a character that chooses to face the choice between good and evil multiple times, but consistently chooses to endure the burden of sin through her evil actions. Therefore, the original sin continues to be passed through the generations because Cathy chooses to embrace and endure it rather than overcome it.
Before Cathy commits suicide, she writes a short will leaving everything she owns to her son Aron. The reasoning why she leaves her possessions to Aron is hazy because she only had multiple interactions with her son Cal; however, Cal reminded her of Charles who seemed to frighten her. She only had one interaction with Aron, but Steinbeck does not include what happened in that meeting. Her will is actually ironic because Cal is the son who succumbs to the temptations of evil. Also, Cal tries to restore the wealth that his father lost in his refrigeration endeavor; in other words, he tries to restore the original sin that Adam tries to rid himself of. Aron, on the other hand, has an ambition to better his lifestyle, until he falls into the same situation as his father: he falls in love with a girl who does not love him in return and wishes to stage his life around her ideas and wishes. Since Cathy leaves all of her fortune (over $100,000) to only Aron, he is the only one that is affected by original sin. Unfortunately, the burden is too great for him to bear so he enlists into the army, trying to avoid the choice entirely, where he is ultimately killed. Meanwhile, Cal is not affected in any way by the original sin because none of Cathy’s wealth is left to him; in addition, Cal burned the money that he earned for his father which was meant to restore his lost wealth, or sin. Therefore, Cal is given the opportunity to actually choose between good and evil because he is not affected by original sin, which differs greatly from evil actions. Adam’s final blessing to Cal before he dies is the word timshel which means “thou mayest.” In other words, Adam tells his son that he has a choice, and his life will be determined by only his decisions and actions as opposed to fate.
The recurrence of inheritance and tainted wealth throughout John Steinbeck’s East of Eden represents the concept of original sin which is passed down through the generations. A significant amount of money, first gained (not earned) by Cyrus Trask, continues to be passed down through the family. Each person is affected by original sin, except Cal, and must suffer through a life controlled and determined by fate and evil. Although some members try to overcome evil, others embrace it and make (not earn) their own fortune to be passed down. Since Cal is the only family member that is not affected by original sin, he has the opportunity to choose his own path, whether it be good or evil, but he is free to make his own choice. All in all, original sin equates to fate: it cannot be overpowered regardless of the countless attempts to gain free will.
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