East of Eden

Brief Overview

East of Eden is a novel by American author John Steinbeck, published in 1952. The book explores themes of good and evil, guilt and redemption through the stories of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, spanning several generations from the late 19th century to the period of World War I. The central figure of the novel, Adam Trask, experiences profound personal tragedies and conflicts, especially with his sons, Cal and Aron, whose fates echo the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The novel also outlines the social and personal changes in American society, transitioning from rural idyll to industrial modernization. The complex relationships within the families depicted in the book reflect not only the eternal conflict between brothers but also each person's search for their path to redemption and self-discovery.