Where are the ‘Good People’ in East of Eden?

Who are the actual ‘good people’ in East of Eden? And more importantly... how good are they really? 🍎 Welcome back to Classics in Session, where Sara and Belinda are deep diving into John Steinbeck’s East of Eden ahead of the Netflix adaptation. In Episode 2, we’re putting three of the novel’s supposed good guys under the microscope: Samuel Hamilton, Lee and Adam Trask. What actually makes someone ‘good’ in Steinbeck’s world? Is Samuel quite as perfect as everyone remembers him? Is Lee the moral centre of the entire novel? And where, exactly, does Adam fit into all of this? Most importantly, what do we rate them out of 10 on a scale of goodness? We’re also starting to get into one of the biggest ideas in East of Eden: timshel, Cain and Abel, generational trauma and whether we’re destined to repeat the mistakes of the people who came before us, or whether we can choose differently. And once you start talking about good and evil in East of Eden, there’s one person you can’t avoid for long. Cathy, we’re coming for you next. 👀 🍎 SPOILER POLICY This episode contains heavy spoilers so beware folks. CREDITS This week's episode is hosted by Sara Zarriello and Belinda Conners. Co produced by Belinda Conners and Sara Zarriello. Video Production by Michael Windle and Maia Longhurst. Scripting and content co ordination by Sara Zarriello. Graphic design and introduction animation by Maia Longhurst. ABOUT CLASSICS IN SESSION 🍎 Classics in Session is where we talk about the world's most famous books without any of the stuffiness. First up for discussion is East of Eden by John Steinbeck, exploring the characters, themes, biblical parallels and ideas behind the classic novel ahead of the new Netflix adaptation. If you’re reading East of Eden for the first time, revisiting the book, or want to know what you need to know before watching the adaptation, you’re in the right place. #EastOfEden #JohnSteinbeck #ClassicsInSession #FlorencePugh #Netflix