A Feminist Reading of <i>East of Eden</i> by John Steinbeck

Abstract

ABSTRACT. East of Eden one of the most controversial works by John Steinbeck since its publication up to now has been receptive to many critical discourses in almost all of the critical approaches. One of the most important reasons to this critical reception is its wide circle of themes and symbolic nature. Having created a world full of universal values, Steinbeck succeeded to challenge many of these values. This paper tries to examine East of Eden with regard to feminist approach. By an over view of the main female characters in the novel especially Cathy Ames as devil incarnate and also the relationship between male and female characters, this paper intends to go through the issue much more deeply and find the dominant viewpoint dominating the whole atmosphere of the novel toward the expected role of women in society and family.

Steinbeck’s <i>East of Eden</i>: Redefining the Evil within Cathy Ames

“…The role Cathy plays further diverges from tradition when taking into account how other female archetypes fit into societal expectations. Specifically, " [Steinbeck's] ideal woman was depicted as a domestic wife who devoted herself completely to the family" [6]. The Perfect Woman, Good Mother, and Destructive Mother archetypes all fulfill these expectations.…”

“…The idea of the perfect wife is significant due to the societal implications of gender expectations during Steinbeck's time. Women were expected to become housewives, putting their family and marital duties above all else [6]. By being the perfect wife, a woman would become the perfect woman in the eyes of the community.…”