In 1968, when John Steinbeck suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 66, the world was shocked. His birthday was just a few weeks away and he was one of the most acclaimed writers in American literature, with a Nobel Prize and must-read classics even today, in 2024.

In fact, a complex man who struggled with depression, Steinbeck is known for his works that explore social and economic themes, often focusing on the lives of rural workers and social injustices.

He gained notoriety with novels such as Of Mice and Men, published in 1937, and especially The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939. The latter, which tells the story of a farming family displaced during the Great Depression, is often considered his masterpiece and won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1940.

East of Eden, in Brazil, called Vidas Amargas (Bitter Lives), was published a year before he received the Nobel Prize for Literature and was also adapted for the cinema, as The Grapes of Wrath, to great success, especially since its main star, James Dean, died a few months after its release and the character Cal Trask became forever associated with him.

The remake announced by Netflix, written by Zoe Kazan, granddaughter of director Elias Kazan, will be different from her grandfather because it will focus on the excluded part of her grandfather’s work. The reason it was probably avoided is precisely because the most important female character in the story is an immoral sociopath, who is extremely sexualized (to the point of prostituting herself for both pleasure and material advancement), something absolutely taboo in the period in which Steinbeck imagined her.

East of Eden is an “update” of the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel, which the author centered on different generations of the Trask family. The story begins with the life of Adam Trask, who grows up on a farm in New England. Adam has a brother, Charles, and the relationship between them is marked by jealousy and rivalry, especially after the death of their mother and the emotional distancing of their father. Adam eventually marries Cathy Ames, a manipulative and evil woman who runs away from home after committing terrible crimes.

Cathy gives birth to twins, Caleb (Cal) and Aron, but soon after leaves the family and goes to work in a brothel. As Adam’s children grow up, the story focuses on Cal and Aron (Elijah Kazan’s part in the film). Aron is idealistic and innocent, while Cal struggles with feelings of inferiority and a deep desire to be loved. Cal discovers the truth about his mother and struggles with his own nature, fearing that he has inherited her evil.

A rich and complex work that offers a profound reflection on human nature and the choices that shape our lives, as well as the search for redemption and the ability to forgive, both oneself and others.

After causing a family tragedy, Cal desperately seeks forgiveness from his father. Both deal with the duality of good and evil throughout the book, showing that everyone can choose their path, which is the central message of the story. So much so that Steinbeck works with the idea of ​​“timshel,” a Hebrew word that means “you can.” This suggests that, regardless of heritage or circumstances, each person has the power to choose between good and evil. And that’s the final word on East of Eden.

Adam Trask is a complex character who represents the struggle between good and evil, both in his personal life and in the choices he makes. His journey reflects themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the eternal moral battle present in humanity.

There was a successful remake in 1981, with Jane Seymour as the villainous Cathy Ames, but this role, in the future production of the series, will be played by Florence Pugh. Christopher Abbott will be Adam Trask and Mike Faist will be his envious brother, Charles Trask. A young cast of acclaimed actors, especially Faist, who has been an increasingly sought-after actor in Hollywood.

The new East of Eden does not yet have an official release date and will not even keep the title (in Brazil) of Vidas Amargas. It will likely premiere in 2025, in time for the 70th anniversary of the original film. And so, there should be updates over the next few months. Let’s keep an eye on it.

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