East of Eden is my favorite book, ever. And I think a large thing about it is how whenever a character makes a speech or statement where they’re absolutely certain, they will be proved wrong for their hubris, almost like an ironic punishment by God. Only one character stays curious and humble, and is portrayed as the wisest, best among all characters.

It is a very biblical book, in the sense that Life, or God, will dole out judgement to people getting too big for their breeches, and to me it is largely about individual and collective sin and redemption. Not that there isn’t a political read of it, but it doesn’t seem to make politics one of its central themes, like in his other works.