Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Good vs. Evil

Q: One of Stheinbeck's themes in "the freedom to choose between good and evil." Do you think this modifies the Cain and Abel story? Why or why not?

A: No, I don't think it modifies it, I believe it examplifies it. In the story of Cain and Abel, they both decide to make sacrifices to God just as their parents had done so. Abel decided to give his best lamb in his field and Cain chose to give some of his extra straw he has left over from his field. Clearly, God had chosen Abel's gift as more sincere then Cain's. Through jealousy, Cain killed his brother and lied to God about what had happened to Abel.
I think this is just a fantastic example of how there is "freedom to choose between good and evil." They were both given the chance to see who would care more about God's response then of themselves. Obviously, Abel made a more selfless act rather then Cain's selfish one. Abel made a good choice to show his loyalty and respect to God. Unfortunately, once Cain killed him, Cain did not care of his brothers death but of someone seeing his action. He did not realize the extremity of it until he was confronted by God himself. The story is just a biblical tale of the freedom a person has to choose between good and evil.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Free Will vs. Chance

Q: Both books deal with the theme of free will vs. chance. What events are chosen of a characters's free will, what events are chance?

A: In the story Snow Falling on Cedars, out of many examples, one is how Kabuo Miyamoto is an innocent, japanese fisherman that was blamed for the murder of Carl Heine, a white fisherman. Because of his race and the way he looks he is blamed for the murder. that is a example of chance. He was not able to choose his fate and what was to become of him. Ishmael decided to kiss Hatsue after having feelings for her for so long. The choice made though was Hatsue in deciding that she cares more about him then what the community or the world would look apon them. During Etta's testimony, she flashes back to how Carl decided to sell 7 acres of land to Kabuo's father, Zenhichi. That was his choice to sell that and make it a eight-year lease-to-own contract in order to help the family out in their time of need.
A few examples from East Of Eden would include Aron and his decision to join the war. He was not drafted and forced to enter the war, he made the choice to risk his life for his country. Catherine also decided to lock Mr. Edwards out of the house, out of her craziness. It wasn't because he was cruel to her or anything of the sort making her do it out of safety.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Monsters in the World

Q: Do you agree with Steinbeck's premise that there "are monsters born in the world"?

A: I do not agree with his premise. I don't think that they are born, but that they are created. experiences and influences help people and creatures become who they are. Everyone has a unique personality that takes part in how they are too. Both personality and experiences take part in how they will react to things when they mature and are forced to go through bigger experiences and hardships.
People are presented with choices almost everyday and everyone will react to it in a diverse way. the character Cathy in East of Eden has been created as a monster. She is wicked in many ways. When she was younger her parents had great views for her future, but perhaps from her view she was being pressured into something she wanted nothing to do with. Maybe from her view of what her parents wanted her to be made her a little crazy perhaps because she couldn't handle it, even though they were great people. She was an unusual child and who knows what Steinbeck's intentions were when he created her.
Overall, everyone is made unique bound by personality and past experiences. A saying i really believe in is "You don't now somebody if you don't know their story."