Hernandez1

ZayraHernandez

Mr.Hedgepeth

HonorsEnglish

3October2016

AdamTraskandCathyAmes

InJohnSteinbecks,E
astofEden,minorcharacter,CathyAmes,possessestraitswhich

emphasizedistinctivecharacteristicsandqualitiesofprotagonist,AdamTrask.DuetoAmescharacter

portrayedinthenovel,shehighlightsAdamsstrengthsandweaknessesbyherwicked,manipulative

andcruelcharactertraits.AdamsrelationwithCathyalsoilluminatesthemeaningoftheworkby

centeringthenovel'sthemetimshel,orovercomingevil.

Adamisfirstintroducedinthenovelasaseriousandhonestboy.Steinbecksreadersfirst

encounterwithCathyswickedanddestructivesidebyheryoungdays.AdamdoesnotmeetCathy

untiltheyarebothmucholderandisevenawarethatCathyisknownforbeingevil.However,beingtoo

blindedbylove,AdamchoosestoseeonlythegoodinCathy.Alsonotetomind,Adamisalreadyina

stateofhurting.Beingalwaysthelessfavoritebrother,hishatredandaggressioniswellcarried

throughoutthenovel.ItshouldbenoticedthatCathydoesindeedhelphealAdam,howeveritdoesnot

lastforverylong.ShefirstsmentallyhurtsAdambytellinghimthatshehadbeenhavinganaffairwithhis

brother,Charles.AdamchoosestoforgiveCathy,althoughthiswasnotsomethinghewouldhavedone

inthepast.CathyssocalledlovedhasaffectedAdamsbyweakeninghimandcausinghimtobemore

forgiving.

 Hernandez2

CathyAmesmanipulativecharactertraitalsodemonstratesAdamschangeinEastofEden.As

timegoeson,AdamandCathymoveandheadouttoCaliforniatoraiseafamilyoftheirown.Cathyis

nowpregnantinthenovel,howeverpregnancycertainlydoesnotchangeher.Shestillresumestoher

oldwayswhichismanipulatingAdam.Throughoutthenovel,Cathymakesanattemptstohaveself

abortionshefails.ItisnotuntillateroninthenovelinwhichAdamsfindsoutabouttheincident.This

bothangersandupsetshim,andevenconsidersleavingCathy.Aspredicted,Adamstillstayswith

Cathyandhavethechildren.Towardstheend,CathywalksoutonhertwosonsandAdam,leavinghim

togriefandmournoverher.AdamisnowmentallyunokayandspendshistimesorrowingoverCathy.

Hehasnowseparatedhimselffromtheonlytwopeoplewhotrulydidlovehim,hissonswhichareleft

toberaisedbyhisservant.

AlthoughCathyscharacterinEastofEdendidbringhappinessintoAdamslife,sheonlytruly

weakenedhim.Bothmentallyandphysically,Adamscharacterthroughoutthenovelbecamebrokenby

thecharactertraitsofCathyAmes.Therelationbetweenthetwoalsohighlightsthenovel'sthemeasa

whole.CathyleftAdaminaweakstateofmindleavinghischildrentoberaisedwithoutamotherand

partiallyafather.Becausebothsonsknowtheirmotherwaseviltheybegintobelievetheyve

inheritedthatevilthemselves,whichilluminatesthecentralthemeofthenovel.