Characterization/Plot
What is the role of the Hamilton's in the novel? What motivates Kate?
The role of the Hamilton’s, specifically the role of Samuel Hamilton, was to guide and counsel the entire Trask family. The novel starts off with the description of Samuel Hamilton and his move to the Salinas Valley to depict their presence as having no beginning and no end to the Trask family. Although the Hamilton’s have mess-ups and they aren’t perfect, they represent an honest and genuine family, creating a character cluster foil against the Trask’s. Samuel Hamilton, often, advises Cyrus and Adam in matters that come up on day-by-day cases. He even offers to help Cathy going through labor despite his hatred for her. He “[sees] the true hatred in her eyes, unforgiving, murderous hatred” but continues on to help, because of his loyalty to the Track’s as a friend (Steinbeck 191). Samuel is favored by many people in town as he helps deliver babies and works hard to improve the quality of life for others without trying to reap profit. He is a genuine human being people learn to love through the heart that they offer and not the monetary sums, which acts as a direct character foil to the Trask’s as they show no genuine heart-felt love and appreciation for one another throughout the novel.
Kate performs actions of violence and murder, because of fear. Her fear, unique and unjustified, is shown through clues of her victims. The people she victimizes her hatred to are people who are in power and in respectable positions. Starting with her patricide, she destroyed the two people who were in the highest position of her life as a teenager. Her next victim was Adam as he became husband and tried to be in authority as head of the household. He even blocked her way when she tried to leave and locked her in her room. Her next victim was Faye who was the head of the house of prostitutes that Kate worked at. Looking at this repetition, we can see that Kate and her violent evil deeds could actually be derived from fear of being take over and fear of having an authoritarian figure take over and try to control her life. This fear motivates Kate to do whatever she can to get rid of those who are above her in status. This fear, however, does not disappear, because it is merely resting. It rises back with Kate growing old as she says to herself “Steady now…quiet down… don’t let it hit you” as she tries to not let what Cal said get to her (Steinbeck 467). All her active refusal towards submissiveness unravels in the end.
Shillinglaw, Susan. "The Women in East of Eden:Focus on Cathy." Oprah Magazine. 06 18 2003: n. page. Print. <http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/The-Women-in-East-of-Eden-Focus-on-Cathy>.
Kate performs actions of violence and murder, because of fear. Her fear, unique and unjustified, is shown through clues of her victims. The people she victimizes her hatred to are people who are in power and in respectable positions. Starting with her patricide, she destroyed the two people who were in the highest position of her life as a teenager. Her next victim was Adam as he became husband and tried to be in authority as head of the household. He even blocked her way when she tried to leave and locked her in her room. Her next victim was Faye who was the head of the house of prostitutes that Kate worked at. Looking at this repetition, we can see that Kate and her violent evil deeds could actually be derived from fear of being take over and fear of having an authoritarian figure take over and try to control her life. This fear motivates Kate to do whatever she can to get rid of those who are above her in status. This fear, however, does not disappear, because it is merely resting. It rises back with Kate growing old as she says to herself “Steady now…quiet down… don’t let it hit you” as she tries to not let what Cal said get to her (Steinbeck 467). All her active refusal towards submissiveness unravels in the end.
Shillinglaw, Susan. "The Women in East of Eden:Focus on Cathy." Oprah Magazine. 06 18 2003: n. page. Print. <http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/The-Women-in-East-of-Eden-Focus-on-Cathy>.
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