"Thou Mayest Rule Over Sin"

Part 5 of an 8-part series on East of Eden.

This week, we focus on Chapter 24, which was part of last week's reading. It's another discussion of the Cain and Abel story. Or more precisely, a particular word in that story.

It's THE word of this book: timshel.

A perfectly normal Hebrew verb, nothing special about its grammar or form. God uses it in conversation with Cain when God asks Cain why he is angry and tells him that sin is lurking at the door, but "you must master" – timshel – sin (NRSVUE translation). Lee becomes obsessed with how to translate and understand the verb form. He's so obsessed with the word and the story that he learns Hebrew.

The object – sin – is clear. And the verb definitely means "to rule." And, as scholars have pointed out, the Hebrew word is technically timshol; Steinbeck misspelled it.

The interpretive question, then, concerns how to translate the aspect of the verb.

Verbal aspect concerns how the action is viewed. So, whether the action is completed or not. We often use the past tense in English for completed actions; for incomplete actions, we use the present or future tense. The verb here is incomplete in its aspect. It's an incomplete, ongoing, or unrealized action. It's future-oriented.

And the future is difficult to translate – it contains contingencies and uncertainties. In English, we have modal verbs to help with these situations – can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, and must.

“The American Standard translation ["Do thou rule over him."] orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in “Thou shalt,” meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel — “Thou mayest” — that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if “Thou mayest” –it is also true that “Thou mayest not.”

Lee argues that the Hebrew verb here should be translated as "may rule," and this understanding of the verb gives Cain a choice. It is not an order like "you rule" or a command like "you shall rule." It is not to be assumed that someone will rule over sin. It's not about necessity like "must rule" or "should rule." It's not about ability like you "can rule."

It's about permission. It's about free will. It's about choice.

So, what's the point of Lee's translation? How does this particular understanding of the verb as "thou mayest" change the way we think about the story and about ourselves?

“Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, “Do thou,” and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in “Thou shalt.” Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But “Thou mayest”! What, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” (301-302)

Some people of faith may view this divine phrase as an order or a destiny. But Lee (and Steinbeck) wants to assert that people have a will. They get to choose how they respond to sin. Even after Cain's murder of his brother, Cain still has a choice to make about his next step.

Just because he commits one horrible action does not mean that he must commit another. He can choose a different way.

This conversation about free will among the three men leads to a turning point in the story. Samuel exercises his choice and reveals to Adam that Cathy is alive and in Salinas. Adam runs away in response. And Samuel turns to Lee and says:

“ ‘Thou mayest rule over sin,’ Lee. That’s it. I do not believe all men are destroyed. I can name you a dozen who were not, and they are the ones the world lives by. It is true of the spirit as it is true of battles—only the winners are remembered. Surely most men are destroyed, but there are others who like pillars of fire guide frightened men through the darkness. ‘Thou mayest, Thou mayest!’ What glory! It is true that we are weak and sick and quarrelsome, but if that is all we ever were, we would, millenniums ago, have disappeared from the face of the earth. A few remnants of fossilized jawbone, some broken teeth in strata of limestone, would be the only mark man would have left of his existence in the world. But the choice, Lee, the choice of winning! I had never understood it or accepted it before. Do you see now what I told Adam tonight? I exercised the choice. Maybe I was wrong, but by telling him I also forced him to live or get off the pot.” (SCE, 306-307)

Timshel – "thou mayest rule" – becomes the new frame for the book. Lee convinces Samuel, our prophet, that we have the ability to exercise a choice. Even if we are sick and weak, we get to choose. It is our glory!

But is it in fact true that all of the characters in East of Eden demonstrate this ability to choose? Do they exercise their choice?

It seems that some characters move and live in a more predetermined way, as if they are trapped by certain decisions or unable to choose for themselves.

Reading Schedule

Week of July 6-12: read chapters 31-39
Week of July 13-19: read chapters 40-48
Week of July 20-26: read chapters 49-55

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.