In John Steinbeck's Book, East of Eden, he succeeds in recreating the Fall of Man. He does this by creating characters that emulate the characteristics, behaviors, attitudes, and relationships of the Serpent, Cain and Abel. Cathy represents the Serpent, Charles and Adam recreate the relationship between Cain and Abel, and Cal represents the relationship of Cain with God. The Fall of Man starts in Chapter Three of Genesis, but East of Eden recreates the Fall of Man by incorporating Genesis Four.
When Earth was created, God planted many plants in the Garden of Eden and in the middle of the garden was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Rather than physically preventing him from eating the apple, God gave Adam the choice, and thus the possibility of choosing right or wrong. The reason Adam had the choice is because without choice Adam would have been God's prisoner. Therefore, Adam would have no obedience to show God because nothing could lead him astray. Also in the garden were the beasts of the field including the Serpent. The Serpent "was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. (Genesis 3:1)" The Serpent decieved Eve into eating the apple by making her believe she would become like God if she ate the fruit. Eve chose to sin even though she knew it was wrong. Then she compounded her sin by getting Adam to eat the apple. Even though Adam and Eve ultimately repented, there were consequences to their sin and they were forced to leave the Garden of Eden and raise their children in a sinful world. Adam and Eve then had two sons named Cain, who became a farmer, and Abel, who became a shepherd. Cain began to bring fruits of his soil as an offering to God, and Abel brought the fat portions of the first born of his flock and God showed favor to Abel and his offering. God did not look with favor on Cain and his offering, so Cain took his brother out into the field and killed Abel.
