Perhaps it takes these two kinds to make a good marriage, riveted with several kinds of strengths. “That’s what it did to those old men of my family.” LARGEST Free Essays Database: Over 180,000 Essays, Term Papers, Research Paper, Book Reports. Despite it’s poignant content, it’s an engaging read because of the hidden religious elements – most of which Steinbeck is developing a commentary on. Adam stood swaying in the lantern light and then he turned and ran. “I don’t know,” said Samuel, “but at least he won’t sit around and mope. “don’t tell me you studied Hebrew!”, Lee said, “I’m going to tell you. “Liza says I am contentious, but now I’m caught in a web of my children—and I think I like it.” “I want to know why you were so “ ‘Thou mayest rule over sin,’ Lee. I’m sorry.” The end of East of Eden can literally be summed up in one word: timshel. The hebrew word that Lee uses to convince Cal to overcome sin is timshel, which is the freedom of choice. “Yes, I think I would. Samuel said, “It’s a fantastic story. “Is this true?” important?”, Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. “We all did. Something about your tone.” Samuel wiped up the remains of gravy in his plate with a slice of bread. Lee looked up from his carving and glared at Samuel. They smoke their two pipes of opium in “It’s my queue, Mr. Hamilton. “Yes. “Why do you come to lecture me? It is always attacked and never destroyed— because ‘Thou mayest.’” “I still don’t understand you.” divine book written by the inky finger of God?”, “I think the mind that could think this story was a He’s hammerheaded and swaybacked. She would find something to do in Heaven. Then, if the poison has not gone too far, your dog may recover. “I went there because in our family there are a number of ancient reverend gentlemen who are great scholars. The night was very dark, and Dox showed his disgust for night-traveling by stumbling every few steps. The struggle between free will and determinism plays out throughout the book, but it is perhaps most acutely defined by the confused interpretations of the Hebrew translations. “Stop it,” Adam shouted at him. Do you know I paid two dollars for him thirty-three years ago? those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too Be careful.” You’ve earned it. “Do you believe that?” “There’s something changed about you, Lee. “Adam, I wonder whether you know what you have in Lee. sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis. “Do the boys know?” “Yes. “I got your letter, Lee. “Dlinkee Chinee fashion,” he said and poured the He is selfish and quarrelsome and mean and disobedient. It is true of the spirit as it is true of battles—only the winners are remembered. They do not believe a man writes fifteen “I guess not. 183,565 ESSAYS, term and research papers available for UNLIMITED access “Well, Cal then.” And he turned to the other. entirely,” he said. It might be the most important word in the Key Idea #3: Timshel! “You say ‘the man.’ Do you then not think this is a divine book written by the inky finger of God?” Adam said, “Maybe you should put him out of his misery.” them met and called me in. Privately there were some things in Heaven of which she did not quite approve. “I don’t want you to.” I love every flint, the plow-breaking outcroppings, the thin and barren top-soil, the waterless heart of her. Timshel - Mumford & Sons (video) The title of the song, “Timshel,” is a Hebrew word meaning “thou mayest.” John Steinbeck references this word in “East of Eden,” to describe man’s choice between good and evil, sin and righteousness. “You could try again.” “Maybe he ought to take them away from here,” said Samuel. I don’t think about it any more.” A slight anger came into Adam’s voice. It says, ‘Do thou rule over him.’ Now this is very different. How we do defend a wrongness! “And I do hope I don’t know already what it is.” The best would be to search out and find some fresh new loveliness to cancel out the old.” Adam is a representation of good in the novel. Adam thought for a moment. “You can never lose that. Adam was not a young man any more. for a long time. I wonder whether I have ever gone so far.” He had not been there for months. She could go on and in her sorrow put a pot of beans in the oven, bake six pies, and plan to exactness how much food would be necessary properly to feed the funeral guests. “I take responsibility,” said Samuel. It was a short flowering. “But if you want to know why—look into yourself.” writing. I exercised the choice. “I’ve wanted to tell you this know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any “It’s a little different from that, really,” said Lee. Well, she didn’t have to go and probably wouldn’t. It’s a good thing to be loved, even late.” “Do they?” Adam asked. They strolled back under the trees. “Dlinkee Chinee, fashion,” he said and poured the almost black liquor. His world did not have death as a member. I have a secret with your son.” “Well, think about it. He warmed the palm of his hand against the rounded side of his cup. I’ll walk back.” “Do you remember when you read us the sixteen verses of ‘Thou mayest rule over sin.’ The old gentlemen smiled and nodded That makes a man a man. gentlemen were always ahead of me. The Lee family If you haven't read it, this is your spoiler alert. This has been my judgment. I’ve given her an untruth, a counterfeit, and I’ve saved the best for those dark sweet hours. “Liza hates for me to say that.” “When a child first catches adults out -- when it first walks into his grave little head that adults do not … “What do you mean?” Liza watched him closely after the decision to go to Salinas. Would you shoot him, Adam?” Many things I am, but a liar I am not.” The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. Her life continued evenly. Throughout Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, he captures the idea of Timshel through different characters. And I feel that I am a man. The old man stroked his beard, and it shone very white in the starlight. China is free. I wonder what he was like before.” He heard the iron tires of the cart grinding on the road. couldn’t help it; the way was set.’ But think of the glory of Samuel put his palms down on the table and leaned forward and the old young light came into his eyes. “Why didn’t you want the boys to learn Chinese, Adam?” But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. And the sad thing to me is that I’m losing my nosiness. I’m going to give it to my father for his birthday.” Samuel said, “Can’t there be a privacy? It was a personal opponent and one he could lick. the afternoon and it rests and sharpens them, and they sit Every two weeks I went to a How did you know?” “You’ll see when they come home from school. “No. You can’t imagine how different.” “Cal, don’t tell me you’re a gardener?” And that’s a long time ago.” “I guess it was plain jealousy. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph. “I won’t,” Samuel assured him. And maybe I’ll get to believe it happened.” They are thinkers in exactness. “Long ago I learned this: When a dog has eaten strychnine and is going to die, you must get an ax and carry him to a chopping block. What is it?” Adam swung out his hand and made an arc over the west. And I’ve tried to follow and maybe I’ve missed somewhere. “No, Adam. “Then you’ll do it?” association. Doxology still thinks he’s one hell of a horse. I think that’s why I picked him when he was a colt. “My question isn’t answered, Mr. Hamilton. Well, to go on, I went to San Francisco to the headquarters of our family association. The boys ate quickly and quietly, wolfed their food. Keywords: East of Eden, John Steinbeck, Timshel, Genesis 4:7, thou mayest In East of Eden John Steinbeck introduces a recurring theme of Timshel—a symbol implying the freedom to choose between good and evil— but the accuracy of Steinbeck’s representation and transliteration of this word “I guess so.” “The “And you don’t like Cal?” Samuel didn’t care. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the “I don’t understand it. I do see. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”. The more I But he hasn’t changed much. It brought them out of their Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek.” And do you know, those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too interested to die now?” ‘Do thou.’ And this was the gold from our mining: ‘Thou mayest.’ I guess no other A man may spend many years pondering a “I just wanted to know,” said Samuel. “They seem older than eleven,” he said. Timshel is introduced by Lee to Samuel and Adam in chapter 24 of East of Eden. It is a lovely and unique It derives from my favorite book entitled East of Eden by John Steinbeck. glittering instrument, the human soul. “I seem to get more Chinese as I get older.” Why, 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. That says the way is open. “I’ve got thirty-five Belgian hares, sir,” Aron said. The two men stopped in the road and looked out at the valley, green tinged from the early rains. “I was thinking of that,” said Adam. “You mean the drink that tastes of good rotten apples?” world. “Think about that, Lee.” And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. She was gay and frightened about the visit to Salinas. In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden “the first book,” and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Exercise books, grammar, You should see Hebrew written in They’re like two sides of a medal. through the night and their minds are wonderful. Popular pages: East of Eden. But I’ll see it in my mind when I’m in Salinas, listening to William Jennings Bryan. There’s no godliness there. They are critics of truth. “Ah!” said Lee. “Of course,” said Lee, And I guess he was right. In the yellow light Samuel slipped the bit in Doxology’s mouth, a bit worn so thin that it was a flake of steel. In East Of Eden, a main theme that is displayed is the freedom to overcome evil in the world. The sound of him stopped only when he had gone over the brow of the hill. She owns a whorehouse, the most vicious and depraved in this whole end of the country. No animal moved about, neither grass-eater nor predator, and the air was so still that the dark limbs and leaves of the live oaks stood unmoving against the Milky Way. “Go and see my Tom. With that come love and hate, fear and hope, friendship and betrayal and in this being able to find the strength rimshel wisdom to see that you essaay a choice. I think perhaps Liza accepted the world as she accepted the Bible, with all of its paradoxes and its reverses. “I went there because in our family there are a number Mr. Hamilton, you should have sat through some of those nights of argument and discussion. “That’s true, Lee. Why, if you accept that you won’t live!” It was a personal opponent and one he could lick. And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. You have never to my knowledge taken a bulldog grip on anything. And it was different in American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and They went to the root of the matter.”. “You deserve a rest.” There was nothing to gain by it. Adam nodded, and the two boys went quickly out. He shivers and cries sometimes in his sleep.” I’ve got eight newborns—just born yesterday.” The King James translation makes a Samuel sipped the drink. and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of Adam whirled on Lee. That says the way is open. It was a proclamation of the new government. Do you know about them? Why do you feel its importance?” It might be the most important word in the world. divine law. The three men were silent. Samuel went on, “After we’ve visited with Olive for maybe a month or two, there will come a letter from George. They took to the study as though they were children. “Well, the story bit deeply into me and I went into it word for word. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. leaves of the live oaks stood unmoving against the Milky Way, Adam, Cathy is in Salinas. Lee said, “I’m going to tell you. He even has an ugly disposition. Yes, I do. man. Let’s hear your story, Lee.” East of Eden supports the meaning for the Hebrew word 'timshel' through the actions of the diverse characters by giving them all the freedom of choice to decide between good and evil. Timshel is a Hebrew word that translates to “Thou Mayest.” Which at first doesn’t seem all that important. I think she would maybe have bolted her heart shut and thrown the key to hell.” Our great families have “I want to know why you were so interested,” he said. With a saddle he feels as though you were riding a sled over a gravel pit. It wasn’t long before they And it’s a fairly long story. His face was hard and curtained, and his eyes looked at generalities and did not inspect details. He took to gazing at the mountains and the trees, even at faces, as though to memorize them for eternity. felt that these words were very important too—‘Thou shalt’ and were ahead of our rabbi; he brought a colleague in. wasn’t listening.”, Lee came back with his stone bottle and three little “That’s reasonable, enough and almost too human,” said Samuel. And unto thee be experts in meaning who could advise me. Suddenly Adam said, “Did you ever hear that Cathy was in Salinas? curiously divine mind. It might be the most important word in the world. triumph. Yes, the story. “That’s what I have accepted.” went to San Francisco to the headquarters of our family They admire their father, but I think they love me. The boys must be big.” “It almost seems that I have told you this,” said Lee. While Lee went to the kitchen Samuel asked, “Adam, did you know about this?” You do not intend to live very much longer.” “Would you like to see them, sir? Samuel looked after them. Mr. Trask didn’t want me to. The bail of the tin lantern squeaked a little as the light swung in Lee’s hand.” In opposition to the other answer displayed on this forum, timshel doesn’t actually mean “thou shalt” but rather “thou mayest,” as explained by Lee during one of his philosophical spiels earlier in the novel. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. “Don’t you see?” he cried. promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph “Then I got a copy of the American And do you know, “I wonder whether I’ll ever get used to the lack of a queue,” he said. “Lee,” he said, “don’t tell me you studied Hebrew!” “You know what you’re doing, Samuel?” Inspect yourself, man.” “Lee’s got a pot roast.” And my life has not been a full orchestra for a long time now. His mind turned sluggishly in the pattern of Adam and almost wearily took up a thought he had hoped was finished. Una’s death cut the earth from under Samuel’s feet and opened his defended keep and let in old age. “I’m Cal.” A cat has no choice, a bee But without it he would surely die.” They are critics of truth. You thought I would change. “You’re going to make me cry,” Samuel said, “and that would be an unseemly thing in an old man.” And indeed his eyes were wet. “Tell me what you’re thinking of.” “Yes, I see. I’m not alone in my attitude, Lee. interested,” he said. Why do you feel its importance?”. I bought every known Hebrew dictionary. made.”, Samuel put his palms down on the table and leaned forward and Why is this word so And it’s a fairly long interested to die now?”, Adam said, “Do you mean these Chinese men believe the It’s true.” “Then I got a copy of the American Standard Bible. He’s fighting for his life and his brother doesn’t have to fight.” And you, sitting by, should marry your mind to the winner. You can smell the sweetness of her skin, and it smells like no other skin in the world—” “Are you sure you’re right?” Lee asked anxiously. Lee said, “I’d have liked to serve it under the tree like the other times, but the air is chilly.” Adam’s hands were clenched and the blood was driven out of his white knuckles. “You’d take the responsibility?” They know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any age or culture or race. Can you imagine four Let’s see what it does to you. Are you interested?” He turned and looked after it, and on the slope he saw old Samuel against the sky, his white hair shining with starlight. And when the dizziness was over, a path was open, new and bright. That throws it right back on a man. And my life which is ending seems to be going on to an ending wonderful. When you go to bed and blow out the lamp—then she stands in the doorway with a little light behind her, and you can see her nightgown stir. centers where any member can get help or give it. Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek.”, Samuel said, “It’s a fantastic story. “I guess it surprised me as much as it did you,” he said. Oh, they were perfectionists! Doxology stood patiently in the stall, head down, his milky eyes staring at the straw under his feet. bit deeply into me and I went into it word for word. “You can never lose that. “I told you I was getting more Chinese. thebighenry commented on the word timshel. Do you ever grow more Irish?” Lee sawed at the pot roast. apples?”. In Steinbeck’s East of Eden, the idea of “Timshel,” is exemplified through protagonist Cal Trask, who undergoes a crisis in which he must decide between remaining evil or changing for the better, a decision only he can make. 'Timshel' memorably appears as the last quote in Steinbeck's East of Eden, and is, arguably, the principal theme of that novel. I even anticipated your questions and I am well their proud clean brains. “Good evening, boys,” he said, and they replied in unison, “Good evening, Father.” The Manchus are not overlords and we do not wear queues, “You’ll see when they come home from school. Although present among each individual’s life, the idea of Timshel … And now I could wish that she may have had some secret caller too. But the choice, Lee, the choice of winning! Then you must wait for his next convulsion, and in that moment—chop off his tail. “Yes—but I don’t believe it. because ‘Thou mayest.’”. I can name you a dozen who were not, and they are the ones the world lives by. much as it would you, since we write up to down. Is it a good feeling to let life lie fallow?” study of Hebrew? And 3 The right to left didn’t bother them as “Well, it seemed to me that the man who could conceive this great story would know exactly what he wanted to say and there would be no confusion in his statement.” Steinbeck’s own message concerning Timshel. Lee did not appear surprised. you can call sin ignorance. “But I take my two pipes in the afternoon, no more and no less, like the elders. “I’ve been bothered by something, Adam,” he said. “His teeth are worn off. But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. Timshel is a major theme in the novel. “He didn’t tell me. “My daughter Olive has asked Liza and me to visit with her in Salinas, and we’re going—day after tomorrow.” “I have heard of them,” said Samuel.” The twins came in silently and stood shyly staring at their guest. Samuel sipped the drink. “But there’s so much to do. And I began to stew about it. “Will you stop the cart?” “Contentious,” said Samuel. I think perhaps Liza accepted the world as she accepted the Bible, with all of its paradoxes and its reverses. I And she comes sweetly to your bed, and you, hardly breathing, turn back the covers to receive her and move your head over on the pillow to make room for her head beside yours. “But knowing it—that’s a great jump. I feel that I am a man. “There’s a lot of wormwood in this. “I’m afraid to try,” said Adam. boys and take care of me and still do all this.”, “Neither do I,” said Lee. “You know, Lee, I think of my life as a kind of music, not always good music but still having form and melody. thought about the story, the more profound it became to me. Every two weeks I went to a meeting with them, and in my room here I covered pages with writing. The best midrash on the story of Cain and Abel was not written by an eminent Talmudic scholar or a medieval rabbinic sage, but by a 20th century author born right here in Salinas. All this timshel mania is inspired by a passage near the end of “East of Eden” in which the character Lee, a cook and housekeeper in the novel, is bringing up … “Samuel!” he said. Do you see now why I told Adam tonight? Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, ‘Do thou,’ and throw their weight into obedience. Adam said, “Do you believe that, Lee?” “What else could I do?” The word 'timshel' is Hebrew and translates into English as 'thou mayest', according to East Of Eden. Later Samuel and Adam walked down the oak-shadowed road to the entrance to the draw where they could look out at the Salinas Valley. “Yes—yes.” What should I do?” They’re like two sides of a medal. Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. “I know it. “Don’t you see?” he cried. Then he’s gone and you blast your conscience to shreds that you did not see him.” Will you have a touch of ng-ka-py?”, “You mean the drink that tastes of good rotten While Lee went to the kitchen Samuel asked, “Adam, did Tell me! old gentlemen, the youngest is over ninety now, taking on the But it is worse than that. “Lee said, “And you named him ‘Doxology.’ ” “Chinese things,” said Lee. It’s coming now.” “I don’t know. They engaged a learned rabbi. I have never in thirty-three years found one good thing about him. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. I came to say good-by.” “It’s a secret.” Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. Cal said, “Next year my father is going to let me have an acre in the flat.” “Does it make a difference, Lee?” Then Oh, they were “That’s what you’ve said. Samuel nodded. “I don’t think so, but that’s only a matter of time. Lee’s head snapped around and he inspected Samuel. brother he has still the great choice. “Did you?” “I know I wouldn’t dare tell it to many people. But I’ve let the shooting go. “Always you bring trouble for my mind, Mr. Hamilton,” he said. Lee climbed down. I’m glad you’ve come, but why do you dig into me?” Lee came back with his stone bottle and three little porcelain cups so thin and delicate that the light shone through them. And there are “Of course I’m not sure. Lee said, “These old men believe a true story, and they know a true story when they hear it. Everything was wrong with him, hoofs like flapjacks, a hock so thick and short and straight there seems no joint at all. Samuel squatted beside it and instinctively stretched his hands for warmth to the butterfly of yellow light. It wasn’t long before they were ahead of our rabbi; he brought a colleague in. Lee said, “Mr. A philosopher who can cook, or a cook who can think? You’ve worked hard enough on that dust heap of yours.” Cathy, and she is now called Kate, takes the fresh and young and beautiful and so maims them that they can never be whole again. Moreover, Timshel is actually planted in one, they either fight evil with Timshel or give into the dark side. “You mean Chinee hatchet man fightee Tong war over slave girl?” “Will you stay to dinner?” Adam asked. “No,” said Samuel. “Are you called Aaron?” My old gentlemen When real death came it was an outrage, a denial of the immortality he deeply felt, and the one crack in his wall caused the whole structure to crash. Maybe I wasn’t listening.” He hasn’t very long now.” “And his children didn’t do it entirely,” he said. pipes in the afternoon, no more and no less, like the elders. I know that it might be better for you to come out from under your might-have-beens, into the winds of the world. “I don’t. “What a stubborn man you are!” “Has about the same effect as absinthe if you drink enough of it.” And she looked forward to Heaven as a place where clothes did not get dirty and where food did not have to be cooked and dishes washed. The Lee family is very large. is very large. He has a pinched chest and a big behind. “He’s about as ugly a crow bait as I ever saw,” Adam said.” “Does it make you seem large and tragic?” age or culture or race. According to one translation of the Bible, God orders Cain to triumph over sin, while according to another, God promises Cain … But this—this is a ladder to climb to the “The way I know,” Samuel said softly, “is that one came to me that selfsame way—night after month after year, right to the very now. “There’s death all around you. You said good things.” “There’s a lot of wormwood in this. I mean why does that matter? “I know what you’ve done for me,” Adam said. that gives a choice. Adam faced him. “What a nice thing to hear! “I guess it’s funny,” he said. My old gentlemen felt that these words were very important too—‘Thou shalt’ and ‘Do thou.’ And this was the gold from our mining: ‘Thou mayest.’ ‘Thou mayest rule over sin.’ The old gentlemen smiled and nodded and felt the years were well spent. This is not theology. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?” “Not much. And after that Mollie will want us in San Francisco, and then Will, and maybe even Joe in the East, if we should live so long.” The King James version Hamilton, you’re going away and you’re not coming back. “Maybe that’s the best of all good things that can happen to a human. anyway.” perfectionists! On the other hand Liza, who surely loved her family as deeply as did her husband, was not destroyed or warped. I thought there might be experts in meaning who could advise me. The questions, the inspection, oh, the lovely Without the shock he will surely die.” They heard Adam’s bedroom door opening. stars.” Lee’s eyes shone. How were you able to do what you did?” And I began to Lee carried a tin lantern to light the way, for it was one of those clear early winter nights when the sky riots with stars and the earth seems doubly dark because of them. It is easy out of laziness, out Adam’s face was bent down, and his jawbone jutted below his temples from clenching. That throws it right back on a I don’t know how you saw the thing so clear. I think he had always thought he could argue himself out of death. They could hear his heavy steps running and tripping. and felt the years were well spent. Adam said, “Do you mean these Chinese men believe the Old Testament?” “Yes, I do. “You’re a kind man, Mr. Hamilton. She didn’t quite know what he was up to but, like a good and cautious mother, she knew he was up to something. It might be the most important word in the world. Cal broke in, “I’ll tell you a secret too, right after dinner.” Stop nosing over my life! Or are you slipping into your cloud bath?” “I love that dust heap,” Samuel said. These East of Eden quotes are all printed on premium quality fine art print material with a smooth, clean finish. Lee sipped his coffee. “You’re “Go on.” “I thank you, Adam,” he said. Lee brought the gray enameled coffeepot to the table and filled the cups and sat down. I’m having to pretend to be nosy a good deal of the time.” Did you ever hear such a rumor? “I’m no antidote,” said Lee. I am, of course, referring to John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. And when he drove away from his old friends they knew they would not see him again, although he did not say it. Lee walked to the shed with Samuel. people have been able to use opium well.”, Lee dampened his tongue in the black brew. To Liza it was simply death—the thing promised and expected. Maybe you’re playing a part on a great stage with only yourself as audience.” ‘thou shalt’ that struck me, because it was a promise that Cain “Goddam you, stop it! That makes a man a man. After those years would come seven years. He can choose his course We discussed the story all night long.” “Have you found a way to rip the backbone out of your name?” She had no love of places. I guess no other people have been able to use opium well.” It was very new then. And that’s a long time ago.”, “Ten years nearly,” said Lee. “No, I’m an old man. He has an iron mouth and he still fights the crupper. But there’s all that fallow land, and here beside me is all that fallow man. I have it. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, ‘I couldn’t help it; the way was set.’ But think of the glory of the choice!