"I was afraid I had you in me."

Part 6 of an 8-part series on East of Eden.
Today's newsletter addresses Chapters 31-39.

Now that Adam knows that Kate is alive, he visits her. At his first visit, in Chapter 25, Adam proclaims that he finally sees her. And Kate proclaims that all people are evil. In fact, she has been collecting evidence – in the form of pictures – of men's evil ways.

The conversation serves as a fascinating metaphor for Steinbeck's concern about good and evil. Is Kate evil because she thinks that's the only option? Or does she think everyone is evil because she is? And Adam's goodness can easily become naivety and idealism. Why does it take seeing Kate as a madam for Adam to realize her manipulative ways?

Now, in Chapter 31, honest Adam visits scheming Kate again to tell her that Charles has left her some money. But Kate is suspicious of Adam's motives.

Adam says to Kate:

“You know about the ugliness of people. You showed me the pictures. You use all the sad, weak parts of a man, and God knows he has them….But you—yes, that’s right—you don’t know about the rest. You don’t believe I brought you the letter because I don’t want your money. You don’t believe I loved you. And the men who come to you here with their ugliness, the men in the pictures—you don’t believe those men could have goodness and beauty in them. You see only one side, and you think—more than that, you’re sure—that’s all there is.” (SCE, 381-82)

Adam is arguing for a more complex portrait of humanity than the one Kate operates with. And Kate is demonstrating that if you want to emphasize the "ugliness of people," you will find plenty of evidence. But perhaps that ugliness is not the whole story.

Chapter 34

I suggested that we read the reflective Chapter 34 at the beginning of our time with this novel, since it does not provide any plot or character information. Now we have arrived at this chapter within the context of the novel.

Let's consider this quotation:

“In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed, most of their vices are attempted short cuts to love. When a man comes to die, no matter what his talents and influence and genius, if he dies unloved his life must be a failure to him and his dying a cold horror. It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world.” (SCE, 412-13)

Is it the case that the book's characters want to be good and loved? Do their vices seem like shortcuts to love?

If you haven't seen the 1955 movie, East of Eden, starring James Dean, then it may be time to watch it. The film focuses on the fourth and final part of the novel.

Reading Schedule

Week of July 13-19: read chapters 40-48
Week of July 20-26: read chapters 49-55

Looking Ahead to August and Beyond

Uncle Ishmael will be exploring the biblical book of Exodus in alignment with the Revised Common Lectionary. The lectionary begins August 23 with Exodus 1 and ends the journey through the book on October 11 with Exodus 32. This 8-week series will appear in this newsletter starting on the Monday before August 23 (so, August 17) and continuing for the following seven Mondays.

Here's a list of the Sundays and the Exodus scripture lesson:

August 23 2026 Exodus 1:8-2:10

August 30 2026 Exodus 3:1-15

September 6 2026 Exodus 12:1-14

September 13 2026 Exodus 14:19-31

September 20 2026 Exodus 16:2-15

September 27 2026 Exodus 17:1-7

October 4 2026 Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

October 11 2026 Exodus 32:1-14

A Benediction (Or Miscellaneous Thoughts)

If you know someone who might want to read East of Eden, forward this email to them. You can always go to www.uncleishmael.com to read previous reflections.

Also, if you know a preacher who might be interested in our upcoming Exodus study, please recommend the newsletter to them.