1. Warming up by graphing the Cal's and Aron's (d)evolvement
For each character, try the following:
- Find a description of this character as a young child, a description of this character as an older child, and a description of this character as a teenager.
- Read these three passages for each character closely, examining Steinbeck's diction.
- What has aspects of this character's personality have changed over time? Why have these aspects changed / what prompted these changes?
- What has aspects of this character have remained unchanged? Why haven't these parts of the character changed?
- Consider some of the timeless dualities at war in both characters (good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture, white vs. black, love vs. hate, fate vs, free will, sight vs. blindness, empathetic vs. selfish, etc).
- Put one side of the duality at the top of the Y axis, and the other duality at the bottom of Y axis.
- Use the X axis for the time from the characters were born until now.
- Graph both character's development/deterioration/fluctuations on the same piece of graph paper. Be sure to annotate your graph with key words and phrases from the passages you examined.
2. Enjoying a new variation on Socratic: Silent Night
3. Wrapping up (out loud)
HW:
1. If you have revised / created your first Big Question Blog (or you simply need to notify me that it's done), please do so by 3:00 pm today as it is the end of 6 weeks.
2. Read Chapters 44 through 49; create a reading ticket for Monday's Socratic. We have just two discussions left!!! In your final reading tickets, start putting all the pieces together. What larger patterns have emerged, and what do they mean?
1. If you have revised / created your first Big Question Blog (or you simply need to notify me that it's done), please do so by 3:00 pm today as it is the end of 6 weeks.
2. Read Chapters 44 through 49; create a reading ticket for Monday's Socratic. We have just two discussions left!!! In your final reading tickets, start putting all the pieces together. What larger patterns have emerged, and what do they mean?
How do the two brothers handle emotion so differently while growing up in the same house?
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting question. This is similar to what Jake asked about nurture or genetics, I wonder if it has to do with Aron seeming to be more like Adam and Cal seeming to be more like Cathy. I think that Cal is much stronger in handling his emotions because he has always thought of himself as second best to Aron which has really forced him to be mentally stronger.
DeleteCal and Charles both spent their childhood bullying to gain respect and to make “friends” Do you think because Cal has shown similarities so far, will he end up making the same type of choices later?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Cal will end up making the same choices later, just because he is starting to feel bad about the bullying. He didn't want to act that way towards Aron because he wanted to be a good brother to him. Cal has the want to change and I feel like he will go through with it.
DeleteI agree that Cal will probably, especially from here on, create a completely different path for himself that Charles. Adam in part seemed to dislike the effort of Charles to reconnect, drawing them further apart and causing certain choices to be made, such as Adam leaving for very long periods of time, and then moving to California. Cal tried to stay connected with his brother, but sees Aron start to pull away and ultimately backs off to let Aron choose his own course and decide the future of their relationship.
DeleteWhy does Aron feel the absence of his mother so much more than Cal seems to? Or does Cal feel the same way?
ReplyDeleteI think Aron is feeling the absence of two parents whereas Cal realizes he still has a father and is trying to become closer to him. Aron doesn't seem to particularly care for Adam, maybe because he doesn't understand him like Cal does. Cal understands why Adam lied about Cathy and loves him for it.
DeleteI think Cal has been more suspicious of his mother's "death" from the start; he seems relatively unsuprised to find out who she is and what she's been up to. It may be hard for him to feel her absence without thinking about her presence.
DeleteI think that Cal feels the void and the lack of a mother figure in his life, but I think that having Lee around is sufficient enough for him. I believe that Aron has more of a skeptical and curious personality. He desires to know the truth and he isn't getting it. While Cal is sufficient in not knowing the whole truth.
DeleteI think it may have to do with the fact that Cal realizes Cathy is evil and he doesn't want to end up like her. With Aron I feel like he has been missing a mother figure his whole life and its all he wants (this can be seen where he makes Abra pretend to be his mom) and he's not as aware as Cal is about Cathy's evil nature.
DeleteAron is constantly abused in a way about his mother. Abra uses the absence of Aron's mother as a way to control him. When the two children are under the tree she even pretends to be his mother in an almost twisted way. Abra attempts to get a secret out of Aron when doing this, and when Aron will not tell, Abra replies "Come on, my baby - tell Mother" (424). It is likely Cal has the same emotions they just aren't prodded at and picked at by another person. Cal even does this to Aron when they are first discussing the possibilities of what has happened to their mother. Cal takes these feeling and internalizes them, almost taking them out on other people in a manipulative way, while Aron is very expressive with his tears and fighting. So both of the boys probably have the same emotions from missing their mother as children, but they express how they feel in different ways.
DeleteAron is never happy with what he has he always wants more and is never satisfied. That is why he feels Cathy's absence so much. Cal doesn't have the same relationship with his dad as aron does and I think he wants that. Cal focuses on his dad instead of focusing on an unknown mother who isn't and will never be in his life.
DeleteBoth Aaron and Cal make a “mentor” out of older men as they work towards the goals they set for themselves. Aaron turns to Mr. Rolf and the Church and Cal turns to Will Hamilton and business. How do their motives and the relationship they build with these “mentors” compare with each other?
ReplyDeleteTheir choices of mentors seem to mirror the way that they think with Aron going to the church matching his almost angelic and head in the clouds nature and Cal being interested in business because of his manipulative nature and more rational outlook.
DeleteThis question and Noah's response make me think about Steinbeck's commentary on the time...Steinbeck mentions historical events that reflect a fall from innocence. The society here is a bit like an angel falling from heaven and into the muck. Perhaps Aron and Cal represent this fall from the idyllic ranch life into the world of 20th century big business. This might be a stretch, but I'm never quite sure how to connect Steinbeck's societal commentary to his character development.
DeleteI noticed that Mr. Rolf focused much more on Aron's physical features than Will does of Cal. Rolf then sees Aron as a product. I think Rolf doesn't truly understand Aron and in seeing Aron as "his product" he doesn't acknowledge Aron's differences. He is seeing something he expected or was hoping for. Will on the other hand analyzes Cal's character and his intentions. Will understands that Cal's form of love and love language for his father is the same thing that he has. He sees himself in Cal but didn't falsely put it there like Mr. Rolf did to Aron. What Will sees in Cal is authentic. In understanding him and connecting to his purpose, Will feels a warmth for Cal. I interpreted this as a fondness Will now has for Cal. Aron isn't really loved by Mr. Rolf. Mr. Rolf is proud of Aron and loves Aron's image. It's similar to Adam's false image of Cathy. Cal is transparent to Will and appreciated. These different relationships developed between mentors and apprentices parallel Aron's superficial life and the depth in Cal's.
DeleteWill it ultimately become a mistake to keep the truth about Cathy from Aron?
ReplyDeleteI think so. I think that keeping the truth from Aron will cause his relationship with his father to be destroyed or at risk the rest of his life. By telling him the truth about his mother doesn't mean he is going to find her- it just provides some clarity over his origin and his family roots
DeleteAdditionally with this, there was a quote where Aron said that either his mother or his father had to be destroyed because if his mother lived, then his father was a liar which was unacceptable- by lying to his son, Adam is setting himself up to fall greatly in the eyes of Aron.
DeleteI think it will, because earlier on in the book Aron gets really excited thinking about Cathy but then reminds himself that Cathy is in heaven and people don't come back from heaven. To have to live your entire life thinking that your mother is dead, and finding out the truth would anger him. Especially because the person keeping the truth from him is his own father, the person that's supposed to protect him.
DeleteAlso I think that Aron will be even more angry knowing that Cal has figured out that their mom is still alive and that he himself has been to "Kate's place". Considering their competitiveness as brothers I think the longer they wait to tell Aron the worse the outcome will be.
DeleteIs Cal able to change with so many prayers?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if who he's really praying to is himself, in a way. He wants to be in charge of who he is and how he treats others.
DeleteAre the differences between Cal and Aron due to nature (cathy's genes) or nurture (the absence of adam)?
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting question, at first I thought there was a clear presence of Cathy in Cal but as time is going on and he is overcoming the evil that was inside Cathy it doesn't seem like its genetics. A lot of how the kids behave seems to reflect Adams presence in their lives, Cal clearly had a change of mindset when Adam finally paid attention to him and wanted to get to know him better.
DeleteI find this question very interesting Jake. First of all, Cal is commonly associated with Cathy's personality but something important about him is his willingness to change. Cal prays to become more like Aron with the goal to abstain from becoming like his mother. Aron, on the other hand, shares Adam's innocence and trustworthiness which can lead to people taking advantage of him. Aron is, however, much more reluctant to accept the truth and live in the real world.
DeleteI agree Sammie. Just to sum that last part up I think that moment when Adam finally pays attention to Cal is the greatest demonstration of the need for love and nurturing as humans.
DeleteWith the war approaching how do you foresee the boys future? Will Aron really go to college and will Cal's bean idea actually take off?
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think back to Cyrus, Adam, and Charles, and how they thought/what they did during the war. Which boy will take after whom?
DeleteIt seems as though Adam will pertain to Cyrus in this situation, while Aron will be similar to Adam, and Cal will be similar to Charles. It is already seen in Cal as he goes and seeks fame and fortune with his bean idea. And just the innocent behavior of Aron makes him seem very similar to Adam. Aron does not see the subtleties in the world and is almost like a lost puppy dog that ends up on someones porch. People are going to take care of him. This is similar to Adam as he fell to the first person that he felt could take care of him in Cathy. While Abra may not have all the same qualities as Cathy, Aron still went for her without even looking at anyone else. Adam and Aron just seem to be very similar people.
DeleteI think that Steinbeck did something in the first couple of chapters that upsets the reader. He send Adam into war and not Charles. Clearly, Charles was better suited for war, and Adam had no desire to fight. I believe that Steinbeck will finally send the correct person into war. I think that Cal might go to war simply to escape the reality of his life. He wants to escape a mother that betrayed him. Aron will continue with his studies and fulfill the wishes of Lee and Adam. It would be shocking if Aron went to war because of his religious spirit and inherent good nature.
DeleteIt has been pretty clear that Adam is more fond or Aron, is Lee more fond of Aron or Cal?
ReplyDeleteI think that Cal and Lee have a better relationship than Aron and Lee because if you go back a few chapters it mentions how upset Cal was when Lee said he wanted to leave for San Fran, and it was Lee that ultimately sparked a change in Cal to stop being "evil"
DeleteI think Cal and Lee ultimately have the greater relationship because Lee can get through to Cal and can tell when something is off. Lee can't do this with Aron; he has more of a wall built up than Cal. Lee was immediately able to see the introduction of Kate in Cal, and Lee put his foot down. Lee has never really confronted Aron about anything and this may be because Aron is more disconnected from the family than Cal is. Cal goes to Lee for help when Aron never has.
DeleteHow does Cal and Aron's relationship mirror Charles and Adam's? Do you think that they will be more like them or go on their own path?
ReplyDeleteI think they parallel with the brother who has the same type of name. Within each brother pair the "A" brothers develop a disgust or disappointment with his father. The "C" brother develops a reverence and respect for his father. What is interesting to me is how these emotions develop through different experiences. Aron resents his father in being associated with him. Adam resented his father because he was fake. Charles loved his father because he respected him and saw him as a strong figure to respect. Cal loves his father because he values his father's assumed goodness. Do you think these different processes of developing emotions will matter? Are the different experiences a function of how Charles and Adam had a "C" named father while Cal and Aron have an "A" named father?
DeleteI predict Cal and Aron's relationship will be strained and distant when they grow up as was Charles and Adam's due to one similar factor in their upbringing: a father's favoritism. I see Adam committing the same mistake Cyrus did as a father and that is to favor one son over the other (Adam over Caleb, Aron over Cal). In both cases, the favored son is the one with held resentment towards their father while the one who seeks affection from him is left behind in a way. Cal already acknowledges this aspect of the family relationships when questioned by Will if he is "buying his father's affection." He doesn't hesitate to say that he is. In the other hand, Aron just has to be in order to receive that same affection and attention. I see the same brotherly distance overcoming Cal and Aron as it did with Adam and Charles later on if or when Adam dies in the story.
DeleteTheir early life set a path similar to Charles and Adam in their personalities and in their actions, but I think we've already started to see a divergence of the twins from them. While Charles never actively sought out change, Cal consciously tries to better himself to achieve the standards of his father and Lee, and of Aron. Adam was forced to enter the military and leave, though Aron desires to leave in order to attend college.
DeleteThough, staying close to the path of Charles and Adam, Cal make an effort to remain close to Aron, similar to Charles' later attempts, while Aron, like Adam, estranges his brother from himself, both unintentionally and potentially on purpose.
Griffin and Ali both address in detail the uneven relationship between father and sons that is present for both sets of brothers. I agree that this is one of the key similarities present between the two stories of brothers. I also agree with Andrea that an important divergence between the two sets of brothers is Cal's desire to not "be mean" and the actions he takes to help his family (377). One similarity I did note between Charles and Cal is that they both want to work their respective family farms. I had wondered what drove Charles to dedicate himself so fully to the farm. Cal's clear intentions to work the farm in order to "buy his [father's] love" may give some insight (477). Perhaps both Charles and Cal see honest, hard work as a way to be of value to their family/community when their personalities do not earn the acceptance and love they crave. Charles did indeed earn respect from his neighbors by running the farm so well, despite his lacking personal life.
DeleteSteinbeck must have a purpose in setting up these two parallel stories of brothers. Thinking back to pages 268 and 278, my sense is that it will relate back to the original set of brothers, Cain and Able, and the "symbol story of the human soul." I think Steinbeck spending pages 299-307 on the word timshel, or "thou mayest" and the powerful impact that phrase had on Samuel suggests that word, in particular, is very important to Steinbeck's message. By setting up two sets of brothers with key similarities in their upbringing (particularly the uneven distribution of love and acceptance), Steinbeck has the ability to show eternal patterns as well as variance in outcomes. The last time Charles appears in the novel, he sleeps with his brother's wife on their wedding night. So, Charles didn't “rule over sin.” I hope Cal's first initial is not his destiny. At this point in the story, Cal recognizes the bad within himself and tries to atone for it. But to fulfill the idea of Timshel, and "rule over sin," I think Cal must also recognize the good within himself and choose to act in accordance with that side of himself.
What is the significance of Cal praying to be better?
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to think about the concept of a prayer in the context of timshel - that a prayer is functionally a belief that things are not under one's control.
DeleteI think that this goes back to the idea of timshel, that each person has the ability to choose to win against any internal darkness they may face. We see that Cal originally starts off similar to Cathy by trying to topple "anthills" just because he can but when he prays to be better he recognizes the flaw within himself and works to triumph over it. It seems that Steinbeck is suggesting that all humans have the power of choice and can choose where their life will go
DeleteI'm not sure what the significance is but I thought that this was interesting too! Especially since Aron is the one that is way more religious, I wonder if any of it has to do with Aron
DeleteAfter seeing his mother for who she really is, the praying may signify Cal trying to rid the evil pulsing in his veins because of Kate. He doesn't want to be like her, and the idea of timshel gives him the motivation to become who he wants to be.
DeleteAt the age of seventeen, does Cal surpass Aron's level of "goodness"?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Cal does surpass Aron. We see that as they get older, Cal tries to right his wrongs and do whatever he can to help out his family. While we see Aron, who only takes but doesn't seem willing to give. I think that it really also depends on our own opinions of what "goodness" or "purity" means,but I think that in terms of the book we definitely see Cal surpass Aron.
DeleteI don't really see one of the brothers as any better than the other, in one corner we have Cal who is willing to help pay his brother through college, and in the other we have Aron who is living by the honorable virtues of the church. What I do find interesting is how Cal is feeding of Aron's goodness. He sees the good in his brother, the smarts, the virtues, etc and decides to do something good for him and help him go to school.
DeleteI think so, because Cal had farther to go than Aron who was always seen as good. Cal had to actually work to be better which develops stronger morals and virtues than Aron who seems to be slipping away from his "goodness".
DeleteWhat does it ultimately mean that Aron is not supposed to make it to the promised land?
ReplyDeleteI thought that was very interesting especially since he decides to be so involved in the church and the clergy. I think Steinbeck is trying to say that nobody is defined by their name but rather the choices they make, thou mayest. A name is just a name but everyone is at liberty to make their own story from their name.
DeleteIf you look at it considering the books parallels to the bible I think that means that Aron will not make it to heaven, meaning he will be unhappy at the end of his life.
DeleteI was wondering this too. I think that Steinbeck is trying to get across that the choices you make during your lifetime, not what you are born into, determines your fate (or whatever). There has to be an important reason he mentioned it when naming Aron.
DeleteIt seems like Aron has a very idealistic view of the world and that noting will be good enough to him. He thinks of Salinas as dirty but it's not that different from the other places we've seen. I think that Aron isn't supposed to make it to the promise land because it will not be as good as he imagines it being.
DeleteI think it's interesting that Aron is often described physically as "golden" or otherwise angelic, yet he isn't destined to make it to the promised land, possibly heaven.
DeleteTowards where we are now in the reading, is Cal or Aron a better person? What makes one better than the other? What does that say about the other brother?
ReplyDeleteI think that Cal is a better person- he is putting all of his time/effort into giving this amazing gift to his father whereas Aron seems to take everything in his life for granted and always want more
DeleteI don't necessarily think that one is "better" than the other, however I think that it has been interesting to see the recent transformation and ambition in Cal. He has finally connected with Adam which brought such a huge gap of affection together. Additionally, he worked with Will to get the money to pay his father back which is such a great act of kindness. It is interesting to see Cal venturing away from the "C" named patterns we have seen in characters thus far.
DeleteI agree with Hallie, I don't necessarily think that one is better than the other but I love the person that Cal is starting to become. It is interesting that Aron definitely stated out as the more likable character and that now that is switching to Cal. I think that Cal overcoming the "Cathy" inside of him, and not letting himself be consumed by the evil that consumed Cathy, that he will be able to do great things.
DeleteIn his movement along the good and evil spectrum does Cal move continuously or does he jump around like a non-continuous function? What does his type of movement indicate about his character?
ReplyDeleteI think that there are a couple things that might confound our ability to assess the goodness or evil-ness of Cal - I think that the development of a person is gradual and continuous, but because we're only given key information by Steinbeck, we only see them the way Steinbeck saw them (and the way we understand them), and we only hear certain events, it's hard to say.
DeleteIt seems like Cal jumps around more depending on what has happened to him. For instance the first time that he prays to be different it's when he's in a very low place, learning that his mother is still alive. When Cal is feeling worse he wants to be better and this could show that when he has problems he tries to get better. Since Aron is a foil to him it could also show that when he's feeling low he wont be able to handle it and could become self destructive instead of trying to better himself.
DeleteCal jumps around as if there were multiple discontinuities in the function, he constantly debates with weather or not he should tell Aron about their mother and still uses his manipulating skills to his advantage. I think Stienbeck has Cal not turn completely "good" or completely "evil" to let the idea that people like Cal have the ability to choose "good" or "bad" (helpful or harmful) choices every time they make a decision resonate with the reader. Cal knows that he has the ability to make harmful decisions when he talks to Lee on pg 445, "I hate her because I know why she went away. I hate her because I've got her in me" but Lee retaliates with the message that Stienbeck is trying to get across to the reader, "Of course you have that in you. Everybody does. But you have the other too". So the fact that Cal sometimes makes helpful decision and sometimes makes harmful decisions stresses the idea that Cal is both good and evil and will struggle with making decisions for the rest of his life. The evil will never leave him and neither will the good.
DeleteAnna's comment is very insightful! It gave me a new perspective on the concept of "timshel" and reminded me of something Lee said during the discussion of that word: "A man can choose his course and fight through it and win" (301-2). Even after a person recognizes the power to choose and decides his/her course, he/she must continue to "fight through it" by choosing how to react to every situation encountered.
DeleteIf name was a reoccurring aspect in the book, why do Cal and Aron turn out to be opposites of what the reader expects?
ReplyDeleteI think part of Steinbecks reasoning behind this is to keep the reader unsure. As soon as we think we know what will happen, there is a sudden twist. So I'm confident that there will be a major shift happening soon in the book in order to keep us on our toes.
DeleteI think it is to point out that you have control over your life and no matter who your parents were or grandparents and further out, you can control who you want to be. Cal's character transformation is to show us that our first impression was wrong and that anyone can turn their life around, no matter their past. The whole time we have known Cal he was described as a smart but dark boy. He was always in Aron's shadow but now we see him completely changing his character and working to be a better person towards his father. Steinbeck wants us to question his characters and not be too stuck in one perception of Cal.
DeleteWill Aron ever discover the true nature of Cathy, and if he does, how it will it affect him?
ReplyDeleteSeeing that Aron is nearing towards evil rather than good, I think that he will be more accepting towards himself. Because I think that Aron knows that he takes and doesn't give back, and is aware that Cal is nearing towards good rather than evil. So I think that Aron wouldn't be too surprised to find out that his mother is Cathy and would actually be accepting of it.
DeleteI wonder the same thing, I think that the characters in the book and the reader are all expecting Aron's world to collapse when he finds out about Cathy and I wonder if this will be true or not. I could see Aron building the strength within himself so that the truth about his mother doesn't effect him, but I also think that one of Aron's greatest weaknesses is his obliviousness towards the truth. Cal has tried to tell him in little way and Aron won't even begin to accept it. I think that ultimately it will destroy his faith in trust and make it hard for him to get close to people, I wonder how it will effect his relationship with Abra.
DeleteI think Aron would disassociate from his entire family because it would mean everyone would have lied to him. As shown in the lettuce disaster, Aron is not a very forgiving person.
DeleteWhy do you think Steinbeck has made it so the good and evil nature of Cal and Aron fluctuate as they age/ progress through the book?
ReplyDeleteI think that Stienbeck is trying to demonstrate the idea that people can become who they want to be. That our ancestry isn't necessarily who we have to be. Cal starts off "evil" and finds pleasure in manipulating people and bringing out their weaknesses. But as he ages he is able to realize that he doesn't want to be an evil person and can choose between good and bad. While Aron starts off as a "good" person and later manipulates other's love for him and uses it to his own benefit. The fact that both characters have fluctuating natures reinforces the idea that humans have the ability to choose who they want to become.
DeleteI really like your response @AnnaM2018 because I think it especially ties back to the idea of timshel and self created happiness/success.
DeleteWhat are the significance of eyes in the transformation of Cal?
ReplyDeleteThis question, I believe, deals with the ongoing motif of eyes. In Cathy, eyes show vengeance and hate. In Adam, eyes shows a willingness to love and be hurt. In Aron, eyes represent everything that can be associated with good. When seeing Aron's eyes, it is easy to trust him. Cal is not in the extreme end like Cathy but he shows the same principles. Cal's eyes, however, show a desire to be good but it becomes hard to do so when his nature is so Cathy-like.
DeleteI think I agree with some of that. One of the quotes I was looking at before we did the graphing activity was p. 477 "Ordinarily Cal's eyes . . . to get."
DeleteHow does the neglect Adam showed his kids affect their changing amounts of insecurity and confidence? Was it Adam that stemmed this or was it the individuals that learned their own habits of insecurity and confidence?
ReplyDeleteWhen Cal is young, he uses his manipulation to walk over Aron. As he got older he was able to acknowledge what he was doing and felt bad for how he made Aron feel. However as Aron gets older, it feels like he is tapping into his manipulation and using it against Cal. Does this have any tie to Kate? Why is Aron beginning to change like this?
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to think about Cal and Aron as two halves of Kate in the context of what you were saying about manipulation.
DeleteAron is loved without trying, why might (in his later years) he start using this unrequited love to his advantage? Is he no longer satisfied with the love he receives in his life (has he become greedy)?
ReplyDeleteI think that Aron is definitely becoming greedy and losing sight of what love is. He doesn't really try to help out his family like Cal does and I think that's the biggest bridge between them. Cathy is Aron's mom, and Cathy loves to use people to their advantage. She uses her beauty to win over the hearts of many people, and I think that even though Aron isn't aware of it, I think that he is doing the same thing. Maybe not with beauty but with his personality.
DeleteChange of subject a little bit.. What is the real reason, or the root, for Lee coming home. Do you believe he was truthful about it being because he was “lonely” or does it have something to do with the fear of failure?
ReplyDeleteI think he truly was lonely, and that he hadn't realized how much he had changed. His fear of failure seemed to hold him back earlier in the book, but once he gets to San Francisco, he realizes that his dream has changed. Perhaps the huge change Adam has gone through has become a part of that; Lee actually is part of their family now.
DeleteIs Liza's death less significant than Samuel's? Considering what we know about Liza, her role, the role of women in this book, how relevant is her death?
ReplyDeleteI think that Samuel's death took a huge toll on all the characters in the book because he was the one who would guide his children and those around him and show others what giving is. And I think that after he died, the characters in the book were lost without him. Samuel had the ability to gain the respect of those around him, without ever taking advantage of that. I think that with Liza's death, she is the kind of person who believes that death is what God wants. Her death in the book seemed to have less of a significance because I think the characters didn't respect her as much as they respected Samuel but feared her.
DeleteI really like this question because it is something I had never thought about. So far in the book Liza has been the first truly good human. We know that Cathy is a bad person, Faye wasn't particularly bad but still ran a whorehouse for a living. I think Liza is a significant death in the story (maybe not as significant as Samuel just because of the amount of time spent on him) because she was a strong character rooted in good virtues and her children (and wisdom) is sprinkled all over the valley.
Delete*First truly good woman character. Not Human
DeleteI find Cal's conversation with Will interesting, especially since the point of view here seems to be limited to Will's perspective; it seems to give us an objective view of Cal. Will is surprised by Cal's honesty, and he feels "embarrassment because of the nakedness, and he knew how safe Cal was in his stripped honesty" (Steinbeck 477). It almost seems like each generation is getting farther away from the strict dualities that ruled the early chapters of the book, and at the same time, each generation is more willing to become honest with themselves. At least, I see this with Cal and Abra (compare them to Cyrus and his two wives). I'm not sure if it applies to Aron...
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book, Steinbeck focuses a lot on the description of certain characters’ hands (Cathy’s hands progressing to a sort of painful ugliness. Cal’s hands described early on as small and delicate, etc.). What significance could hands hold?
ReplyDeleteBack in Chapter 27 Cal's hands are discussed as "...very small for the size of the rest of him... There were few things that could make him cry, but a cut finger was one of them." We have also seen description of Cathy's hands when Adam saw her for the first time since she shot him. They were described as wrinkly and worn. Now in our most recent reading the most interesting description in my opinion occurs. Kate has arthritis and when Cal goes into her house, her hands are one of the first things he recognizes. "The gloves made her hands seem puffed and pudgy... and slowly removed her gloves. The fingers of both hands were bandaged." Kate angrily yells at Cal for staring at her arthritis and talks about how much it hurts. She later on goes to say that "an evil voice whispered that it might be punishment." What is the significance of this deep description of hands and the fluctuation of how they appear? Is there a greater theme Steinbeck is getting at?
ReplyDeleteI was really wondering about this as well. The hands of both of them are mentioned too often to be a coincidence and I think that it has to due with the changing nature of Cal. When someone does something bad it is often referred to them getting their hands dirty but Cal keeps his clean. I think this shows how Cal is overcoming the darkness inside of him
DeleteQuestion about Cathy (or "Kate"): As she gets older, why do you think Steinbeck emphasizes her arthritis? Why is she always described as swollen? (I'm thinking back to Foster and the importance of the different illnesses ascribed to characters).
ReplyDeleteHow are the scenes where Samuel punches Adam and where Lee threatens to fight Aron similar? How are they different? What does this suggest about the similarities of certain characters throughout the novel?
ReplyDelete