East of Eden: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|'' "If you want to give me a present, give me a good life. That's something I can value." '' |'''Adam Trask'''}}
{{quote|'' "If you want to give me a present, give me a good life. That's something I can value." '' |'''Adam Trask'''}}


A 1952 novel by [[John Steinbeck (Creator)|John Steinbeck]], [[East of Eden]] was brought to the screen in 1955 by director Elia Kazan with a cast headed by [[James Dean]].
A 1952 novel by [[John Steinbeck]], '''''East of Eden''''' was brought to the screen in 1955 by director Elia Kazan with a cast headed by [[James Dean]].


The novel concerns two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, who live in Salinas Valley, California. The Hamiltons, headed by patriarch Samuel Hamilton and wife Liza, initially settle into the valley with their nine kids. When the kids set out to seek their fortunes, the land is settled by the wealthy Adam Trask. The Trask family grows, adding a wife, Cathy, a [[Devil in Plain Sight]], and sons Cal and Aron. Just after the birth of the two sons, Cathy vanishes from their lives. Years later, the now-grown boys meet a girl named Abra, whose presence drives a wedge between the two.
The novel concerns two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, who live in Salinas Valley, California. The Hamiltons, headed by patriarch Samuel Hamilton and wife Liza, initially settle into the valley with their nine kids. When the kids set out to seek their fortunes, the land is settled by the wealthy Adam Trask. The Trask family grows, adding a wife, Cathy, a [[Devil in Plain Sight]], and sons Cal and Aron. Just after the birth of the two sons, Cathy vanishes from their lives. Years later, the now-grown boys meet a girl named Abra, whose presence drives a wedge between the two.


The movie was named to the [[National Film Registry]] in 2016.
Not to be confused with [[Eden of the East]].

----
Not to be confused with ''[[Eden of the East]]''.
=== This work features examples of: ===

* [[Adam and Or Eve]]: The two brothers are named Cal and Aron and their father is named Adam. The brothers' uncle is Charles, and Adam's wife is named Cathy.
{{tropelist}}
* [[Adam and or Eve]]: The two brothers are named Cal and Aron and their father is named Adam. The brothers' uncle is Charles, and Adam's wife is named Cathy.
* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: Director Elia Kazan decided to completely cut out the first two thirds of the book and just make the movie about the final third, which focuses on Adam's two sons as teenagers.
* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: Director Elia Kazan decided to completely cut out the first two thirds of the book and just make the movie about the final third, which focuses on Adam's two sons as teenagers.
* [[Alice Allusion]]: ''[[Alice in Wonderland (Literature)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' was Cathy's favorite book as a child. {{spoiler|She kills herself by taking poison, imagining the "Drink Me" bottle shrinking her into oblivion}}.
* [[Alice Allusion]]: ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]'' was Cathy's favorite book as a child. {{spoiler|She kills herself by taking poison, imagining the "Drink Me" bottle shrinking her into oblivion}}.
* [[Arc Words]]: ''{{spoiler|Timshel}}''.
* [[Arc Words]]: ''{{spoiler|Timshel}}''.
* [[Asian Speekee Engrish]]: Thoroughly [[Subverted]] and [[Deconstructed]] with Lee's entire character.
* [[Asian Speekee Engrish]]: Thoroughly [[Subverted]] and [[Deconstructed]] with Lee's entire character.
* [[Cain and Abel]]: Charles and Adam, Cal and Aron.
* [[Cain and Abel]]: Charles and Adam, Cal and Aron.
* [[Childhood Marriage Promise]]: {{spoiler|Aron and Abra}} make one. {{spoiler|It doesn't work out}}.
* [[Childhood Marriage Promise]]: {{spoiler|Aron and Abra}} make one. {{spoiler|It doesn't work out}}.
* [[The Clan]]: two for the price of one!
* [[The Clan]]: two for the price of one!
* [[Devil in Plain Sight]]: Cathy in her early years; she is described as a [[Complete Monster]].
* [[Devil in Plain Sight]]: Cathy in her early years; she is described as a [[Complete Monster]].
* [[Funny Foreigner]]: Lee pretends to be one of these.
* [[Funny Foreigner]]: Lee pretends to be one of these.
* [[Generation Xerox]]
* [[Generation Xerox]]
* [[Hooker With a Heart of Gold]]: Played straight with Faye (and others, to a lesser extent), but subverted ''hard'' with {{spoiler|Cathy}}, who pretends to be one.
* [[Hooker with a Heart of Gold]]: Played straight with Faye (and others, to a lesser extent), but subverted ''hard'' with {{spoiler|Cathy}}, who pretends to be one.
* [[Not Listening to Me Are You]]: As Sam reads Adam and Cathy a story, he throws in some nonsense lines. They fail to listen to them.
* [[Not Listening to Me, Are You?]]: As Sam reads Adam and Cathy a story, he throws in some nonsense lines. They fail to listen to them.
* [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]: Lee, the Pidgin speaking Chinese cook, is actually the smartest character in the whole story.
* [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]: Lee, the Pidgin speaking Chinese cook, is actually the smartest character in the whole story.
* [[Parental Favoritism]]: Cyrus prefers Adam, and Adam {{spoiler|prefers Aron}}.
* [[Parental Favoritism]]: Cyrus prefers Adam, and Adam {{spoiler|prefers Aron}}.
* [[Roman à Clef]]: the Hamilton sections are based heavily on Steinbeck's maternal family history.
* [[Roman à Clef]]: The Hamilton sections are based heavily on Steinbeck's maternal family history.
* [[Self-Made Orphan]]: {{spoiler|Cathy, in one of the most chilling scenes in the book.}}
* [[Self-Made Orphan]]: {{spoiler|Cathy, in one of the most chilling scenes in the book.}}
* [[Shout-Out]]: The title is taken from [[The Bible (Literature)|The Book of Genesis]]: "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and took up residence in the Land of Nod, east of Eden."
* [[Shout-Out]]: The title is taken from [[The Bible|The Book of Genesis]]: "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and took up residence in the Land of Nod, east of Eden."
* [[Sibling Triangle]]: {{spoiler|Cathy marries Adam, but sleeps with his brother Charles}}. Later, {{spoiler|Aron's girlfriend Abra transfers her affections to Cal}}.
* [[Sibling Triangle]]: {{spoiler|Cathy marries Adam, but sleeps with his brother Charles}}. Later, {{spoiler|Aron's girlfriend Abra transfers her affections to Cal}}.
* [[The Sociopath]]: Cathy.
* [[The Sociopath]]: Cathy.
* [[Son of a Whore]]: {{spoiler|Cal and Aron.}}
* [[Son of a Whore]]: {{spoiler|Cal and Aron.}}
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* [[Theme Initials]]
* [[Theme Initials]]
* [[The Unfavorite]]: Charles and {{spoiler|Cal}}.
* [[The Unfavorite]]: Charles and {{spoiler|Cal}}.
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Cyrus to Charles, and later, {{spoiler|Adam to Cal}}.
* [[Throw It In]]: Cal was supposed to deck Adam after he rejects his present. When shooting, James Dean had the impulse to instead hug Raymond Massey. This became a moment of [[Enforced Method Acting]] for Massey who, unpracticed in improvisation, came across exactly as stiff and uncomfortable as Adam ought to be under the circumstances.
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Cyrus to Charles, and later, {{spoiler|Adam to Cal}}.
* [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]: The epic religious symbolism is the entire point of the book.
* [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]: The epic religious symbolism is the entire point of the book.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture Drama}}
[[Category:Lit Fic]]
{{The Big Read}}
[[Category:The Fifties]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Films of the 1950s]]
[[Category:Films of the 1950s]]
[[Category:East of Eden]]
[[Category:Golden Globe Award]]
[[Category:National Film Registry]]
[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Literature of the 1950s]]
[[Category:Lit Fic]]

Latest revision as of 13:51, 16 April 2023

"If you want to give me a present, give me a good life. That's something I can value."
Adam Trask

A 1952 novel by John Steinbeck, East of Eden was brought to the screen in 1955 by director Elia Kazan with a cast headed by James Dean.

The novel concerns two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, who live in Salinas Valley, California. The Hamiltons, headed by patriarch Samuel Hamilton and wife Liza, initially settle into the valley with their nine kids. When the kids set out to seek their fortunes, the land is settled by the wealthy Adam Trask. The Trask family grows, adding a wife, Cathy, a Devil in Plain Sight, and sons Cal and Aron. Just after the birth of the two sons, Cathy vanishes from their lives. Years later, the now-grown boys meet a girl named Abra, whose presence drives a wedge between the two.

The movie was named to the National Film Registry in 2016.

Not to be confused with Eden of the East.

Tropes used in East of Eden include: