Dallin Haslam

Haslam 1

Mrs. Thompson
Per.4
4\28\13

Expectations and Forced Outcomes

In his novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck tells the story of many generations
living in Californias rural Salinas Valley. Steinbeck uses this multi-generational context
to explore the dynamic between parents and their children. Each generation struggles
with the expectations set for them by the previous. East of Eden shows the conflict
between the natural human tendency to fulfill expectations set for children by their
parents, and the powerful individual desire to break free of those expectations and seek
independence. By seeking rigid compliance with their own expectations and plans,
instead of allowing children to choose their own paths in life, parents bring about
disastrous consequences.
The conflict between Cathy and her parents clearly illustrates what can happen
when expectations between parent and child diverge. Cathy feels trapped by her parents
desire for her to become a school teacher, so she resorts to extreme measures to escape.
When her parents physically wrestle her home after she attempts to leave, Cathy declares
in defiance, You remember who you are. And dont forget who I am. (83). Cathys
parents underestimate the magnitude of her desire to break free of their expectations.
Pushed by their control, Cathy chooses to exercise the ultimate dominion of another and
murders her parents. Subsequently she burns down their house, completely erasing any

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possibility of their influence remaining over her. Cathys insane behaviors came from her
parents mistake of not recognizing her true character and failing to release her to follow
her wicked path. Without feeling completely controlled, Cathy might not have felt the
need to use such disastrous methods to escape. Cathys insane actions create vivid
imagery of the dangers of rigid and controlling expectations.
Steinbeck also uses the relationship between Adam Trask and his son, Aron to
show the dangers of holding inflexible expectations. Adam sees Aron as a great scholar
and expects him to continue on with his studies in college. However, contrary to his
fathers desires, Aron does not enjoy being a student, and finds college lonely and
disappointing. He had made a mistake. He could admit the mistake but yet as he could
not reverse himself (521). This creates an internal conflict within Aron. He wants to
please his father, but he also wants to lead his own life. This conflict, as well as the
difficulty of facing the reality of his Mothers choices, pushes Aron into making a rash
and final choice to join the army. Adams inability to relax his rigid expectations forces
Aron to flee. By choosing to cling to his expectations, Adam contributes to his sons
death. When Adam recognizes the part he played in this disaster he suffers a stroke,
further adding to the disaster.
The character of Abra shows how detrimental expectations can lead to
unhappiness. Abras parents expect her to act refined and proper, while Abra wishes to
develop her own way, not fitting into anyones mold. Abras parents hold her close,
expecting her to live a sheltered life, and Abra longs for more freedom. Consequently, she
chooses to be disobedient, which strains the relationship with her parents further. She

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often leaves her home and chooses to spend time with Lee who listens to her,
encouraging her to express her own thoughts and ideas. He allows her to be herself,
showing her: And now that you dont have to be perfect, you can be good. Is that it?
(583). Eventually Abra sees Lee as more of a father than her own. She forms a deeper
relationship with the Trask family, distancing herself from her own family. Abras
parents inability to see her as a person with wants and desires of her own creates a strain
in their relationship, causing both parents and child unhappiness. If Abras parents gave
her more freedom without such a rigid plan for her life, the rift in their relationship could
have been healed. This shows how relationships governed by firmly held expectations of
behavior suffer and cause unhappiness.
The relationship between Cal and his father Adam provides a further example of
the power of parental expectations. Although Adam loves his son Cal, he values
academic achievement more than agricultural aptitude. He heaps praise upon Aron and
expects less of Cal: I would have been so happy if you could have given me- well, what
your brother has-pride in the thing that hes doing..(541). This comparison causes Cal
to struggle with his own worth and value to his father. The internal struggle leads Cal to
alter his behavior. When Cal gives his father money, in an attempt to buy his fathers
love, Adam rejects him. Cal, confused, lashes out to punish his father by taking his
brother to the whorehouse. Adams fixed vision of Cal pushes Cal to act as unworthy of
his fathers love. This sets into motion a chain of events ending with Arons flight to the
army. Rigid expectations contribute to a great tragedy that forever alters the relationship
between Adam and his sons.

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The unconditional love shown by Lee to Adams sons and Abra further demonstrates the
positive outcome of relationships not governed by rigid expectations
The relationships Lee develops as he cares for Cal and Aron during their
childhood and as he befriends Abra, show how enabling children to grow and develop
freely can lead to greater happiness. Lee tries desperately to get Cal to see himself as an
individual who can choose his own path, rather than one who must follow a preset role.
Lee tries to show Cal he doesnt need to be governed by living up to the expectations of
others: You stop that! He said sharply. You hear me? Dont you let me catch you doing
that. Of course you may have that in you. Everybody has. But youve got the other
too.(445). Ungoverned by expectations, Lee also helps Abra to act honestly and in
accordance with her own desires and thoughts, very often she stayed for dinner rather
than go home to her parents. There was no subject she could not discuss with Lee.(490)
He encourages her to accept herself as complex human being, rather than a woman who
must adhere to a certain code of conduct. As Abra breaks free from the rigid set of
expectations her parents set for her she sees the world from a less absolute perspective.
This enables her to see how unrealistically Aron viewed her. As she comes to this
realization she explains Arons behavior to Cal: He wanted the story and he wanted it to
come his way. He couldnt stand to have it come out any other way (575). Lee helps
her to move toward a real relationship with Cal, one without rigid expectations. She
explains this to Cal as he confesses to her how he views himself: I think I love you Cal.
Cal argues, Im not good, but Abra explains that she loves him, Because youre not
good (576). Shown in

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stark contrast to rigid expectations, these happy relationships show the consequences of
allowing children to create their own paths.
The depth of pain created by these parents for their children allows Steinbeck to
show the dangers of rigid expectations. Cathys parents disregard for her desires leads
her to kill them to escape. Abras parents expectations for her do not allow her to have a
true relationship with them, so she finds love elsewhere. Adams expectations for Aron
eventually and inadvertently lead to Arons death. Cal, stuck in the expectations set for
him by his father, chooses to act irrationally, damaging his brother and punishing his
father. These actions ultimately contribute to Arons death. This multi-generational story
illustrates the dangerous consequences of inflexible expectations. When parents seek to
force their ideas upon their children, rather than seeking to understand their individual
desires, relationships suffer, lives are damaged, and tragedy occurs.