Today I finished East of Eden and I have to say, the book did not disappoint. Although admittedly I did bang the book against the table because I was so angry. I should have seen it coming. I know the story of Cain and Able, and I should have seen where it was going. (WARNING, the next few sentences are a spoiler for those who have not read the book) Adam Trask was the one who really made me angry. He was so proud of Aron for choosing to finish school early and go to college, and Cal wanted to make his father proud too. Instead of going the same path Aron did, he made a fortune in business and presented the money to his father. His father would not take it, claiming that rightfully belonged to the farmers who grew the crop that Cal got rich off of, and told Cal that a real gift would have been going to college like Aron had. In addition to being unforgivably rude, Aron was not even worthy of his fathers compliment. He confessed to Cal earlier that day that he did not want to return to college, and would rather settle down on a ranch. It hurt Cal vary much, and jealousy drove him to hurt his brother in the only way he could: introducing him to their mother. Aron went into a fit of rage, and ended up running away to be a soldier in the war, where he ended up dying.
But unlike in the Bible, this story has somewhat of a happier ending. Even though Adam Trask has a stroke afterward and can do very little, he forgives Cal and gives him his blessing. The last word he said was of great significance to the book. Timshel- Thou mayest. When put in the context it is used in the Bible, it is saying that you may serve the Lord, and that you do not have to. You are free to do as you will. With it, he set Cal free.
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