If you're going to title your book East of Eden, you're implying that there's a West, too. This novel loves to work the East-West thing: Back East (Connecticut) versus the Wild Wild West (California), East as in Lee's Orient versus West as in Samuel's Irish-Americanism, and of course "east of Eden" as in where the biblical Cain is banished to after killing Abel. But direction is a little complicated: Adam goes west to find his Eden, while Lee figuratively goes east when his Chinese parents come to America. It's enough to make your head—and compass—spin around a bit.
Questions About Contrasting Regions—East vs. West
- What are the connotations of East and West outside of East of Eden? How does East of Eden switch up or reinforce those connotations?
- Why do you think Steinbeck starts out the story's action on the East Coast?
- How does Lee's self-described Orientalism lend itself to some of the other themes of the story?
- Aside from it being a biblical reference, why do you think Steinbeck chose to emphasize east in his title?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In the novel, East and West are fluid categories.
There are many Easts in the novel.