John Steinbeck’s novel “East of Eden” not only depicts the story of Cain and Abel, good versus evil and free choice as well as a narrative of Steinbeck’s own life, it also gives the reader an insightful look into the perils and consequences of unrequited love. This is demonstrated in several characters in the book. Of these, the relationship between Adam and Cathy most prominently displays the perils of unrequited love. John Steinbeck’s defines love most eloquently in “East of Eden”. Sometimes a kind of glory lights up the mind of a man. It happens to nearly everyone. You can feel it growing or preparing like a fuse burning toward dynamite. It is a feeling in the stomach, a delight of the nerves, of the forearms. The skin tastes the air, and …show more content…
The story is Samuel Hamilton leaves his homeland of Ireland, where he is extremely well liked, and has all his family around him. He is not rich nor is he a poor man, he is what some call middle class. Being an honest man he is neither a criminal or into anything political that would force him to leave his beloved family and country. Yet, he marries and comes to Salinas Valley with his wife Liza. Rumor has it in the Steinbeck family that love is what made him leave and not the love of his wife Liza. I do not know where he met her, how he wooed her, married. I think there must have been some other girl printed somewhere in his heart, for he was a man of love and his wife was not a woman to show her feelings. The two have completely different personalities, …show more content…
She is described in the novel as having a cheerful and sparkling personality whom everybody loves. Dessie grows up and moves to Salinas where she opens a profitable dress shop. The shop becomes a haven where local women come to enjoy themselves away from their families. Dessie falls in love and has an affair with a man who did not reciprocate her feelings. Then when the affair was over, Dessie went right on doing and being what she was---without the glow. The people who loved her ached for her, seeing her try, and they got to trying for her. Dessie is totally distraught and is having physical problems as well. However, she will not discuss her problems with anyone and therefore, she suffers in silence. The women who once came to her shop, no longer finding good times and laugher, merely stop coming. Dessie’s business suffers as a consequence so she decides to sell her home and return to the ranch to live with her brother Tom. Upon arriving at the ranch Dessie’s physical ailments worsen, hiding it from Tom for as long as possible. Then one evening Tom gives her salts to soothe what he believes to be a stomach ache. Dessie dies soon after as a result of her illness and being given the wrong medication. She never regains her passion for life as it is still lost to the man she loves until death comes to take