Peking University, April 23, 2024: I was first introduced to John Steinbeck’s magnum opus, East of Eden, when I received it as a gift. The first few pages, I admit, left me to question whether it was worth it for me to continue reading the book as Steinbeck’s extensive description of flowers and hills proved quite monotonous. Alas, good sense prevailed and I soon found myself unable to put the book down. 

Set in the farmlands of the Salinas Valley, East of Eden follows the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families across generations, chronicling their destinies which seem to be reminiscent of Ancient Greece’s tragedies. Love, free will, acceptance, and the common people’s capacity for self-destruction are among the core themes explored by the novel, rendering it a heavy but deeply philosophical read.

Steinbeck's prose was different from that of other authors from his time, though plain at first glance, it somehow always finds a way to move into a rhythm that echoes the heartbeat of life itself and makes readers nostalgic for a time from more than a hundred years ago. Incidentally, for readers less concerned with exploring the nuances of the human condition and more interested in glancing at the period’s history through a literary work, East of Eden can also act as a window to the past. 

A good example is the part in the story where a mechanic’s vain attempt to teach the protagonist how to use a motor vehicle ends up being a realization for him that transitioning into the future is not as simple as buying a new car. There are many other parts like this too, showing the readers that the “taming” of the American West did not always involve gunslingers dueling in high noon, but had sides to it that were nakedly human.

If you find the chance, try to sit back and pick up a copy of this novel. If you find yourself liking it, I hope it inspires you to pick up Steinbeck’s other masterpieces. Don’t worry, you still have The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men among others ahead of you.

More from this series:

How re-reading The Little Prince gets me through tough times

Written by: Lee Ricson
Edited by: Yang Ruoxiang