Wrestling with Evil: East of Eden

A quick review of popular television shows, movies, and books suggests that Americans are fascinated by zombies, vampires, madmen with predilections for unusual head gear, and other manifestations of evil. That being the case, John Steinbeck’s East of Eden should be burning hot, but don’t bother checking any of the best seller lists. It hasn’t been on any of them for years.

Some might argue that East of Eden, like Catcher in the Rye and The Zoo, is dated, and doesn’t deserve to be on the bestseller lists. Purists will bemoan Steinbeck’s annoying tendency to lose track of his narrative. Yes, there is no denying the book’s structural problems, such as Steinbeck’s decision to interrupt the fictional narrative with narcissistic stories about his boyhood. And a full appreciation of East of Eden requires some knowledge of Biblical themes, which are often unfamiliar to many readers. To top it off, Steinbeck’s reputation suffered a severe blow when it was discovered that his book about his road trip, Travels With Charley, turned out to be mostly fiction. Sadly for his admirers, Steinbeck and his dog, Charley, did not take that long journey across the country into the American soul.

All this being said, the real problem with East of Eden is that it is too frightening. People enjoy the occasional hair raiser, but since none of us really expects to meet a zombie or move to the infamous Elm Street, we are free to enjoy the thrill with none of the dangers. Meeting the evil Kathy Trask in the pages of East of Eden is another matter, however. Kathy reminds us that evil lurks out there, hidden behind a beautiful mask, waiting to prey on the innocent and unsuspecting. Even worse, through Kathy, Steinbeck reminds us of the evil that lurks within every individual. Now that’s a nightmare to contemplate, no matter what street you live on.