Film Study on Elia Kazan's film East of Eden

Study of a scene from the screenplay of Elia Kazan's film 'East of Eden'

The Ferris Wheel Scene
Daniela 8T

Introduction
East of Eden is a story by John Steinbeck, which started out being a sort of family saga, which was meant to be for Steinbeck’s sons to understand who they were. Steinbeck’s writing is very linked to his own life, because he inserts people and places he loves. He sets most of his stories in Salinas, and East of Eden is no exception. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck makes his family some of the main characters. For example, his grandfather Hamilton inspires the Hamilton family in East of Eden and he doesn’t even disguise the family name. John Steinbeck’s East of Eden was soon turned into a movie, and it is no surprise that one of the best directors of the 1950s chose to present it: Elia Kazan. Elia Kazan was a film director born in the Ottoman Empire in 1909, who won many awards and nominations before his death in 2003. Steinbeck knew that James Dean was right for Cal’s part immediately, because his personality fit perfectly. James Dean was a rebel, just like Cal in the story, and he had gone through some personal experiences similar to Cal’s. James Dean had been very close to his mother throughout his childhood, and it broke his heart when she died. This makes him similar to Cal, and excellent for the movie role. For the movie East of Eden, Kazan introduced a new method of performing called method acting, when the actors’ emotions really come out. While filming the movie, there was a natural conflict between James Dean and Raymond Massey, because it seemed that Dean was just looking for trouble, whatever he did. He even improvised some lines while shooting the film, which frustrated everyone tremendously, especially Massey, who responded to Dean’s sassiness with anger, which was clearly and excellently captured in Kazan’s film. Although this film is based on only the last eighty pages of Steinbeck’s novel, I think it is an excellent motion picture, about conflict between fathers and sons.

The Scene
I chose to describe the ferris wheel scene. This scene begins when Cal goes to the carnival one night. Cal is walking along and playing some carnival shooting games, when he notices a military officer bothering Abra, who is waiting for Aaron. The military officer is insisting on accompanying Abra on a ride, almost forcefully, and we can tell that she is very uncomfortable. Cal intervenes, and politely tells the officer that he is Abra’s date, and leaves with the officer’s warning that he shouldn’t leave his date around at a place like the carnival. Abra thanks Cal for helping her, and informs him that she’s early for her appointment with Aaron. Cal discovers that this is Abra’s first time at the carnival at night, so he takes her for a tour of the carnival, lets her try some games, and plays a bit himself. They walk around for a bit, and then they go on the ferris wheel. As they go around, they stop at the top, in the sky, where nothing seems to be real, and everything seems to be distant. Abra and Cal start talking, about the war, and Abra confesses something to Cal. She tells him how she doesn’t feel good enough for Aaron. She tells Cal how she knows that she should be completely satisfied with a good boyfriend and future husband like Aaron, but she’s not sure whether she’s good or bad. Abra realizes that she has a good side and a bad side. She asks Cal some questions as well, especially about love. She asks Cal what it’s like to date the girls that follow him around. We can tell she feels sort of embarrassed asking Cal these things, but she feels she doesn’t know what love is, because she believes that love must be more exciting than what she feels with Aaron. She suspects that it is more thrilling than the soft, quiet, conservative, family-like love she shares with Aaron. Abra admits to Cal that she assumes that Aaron thinks of her as his mother, and that she doesn’t think he’s in love with her at all, that he’s just in love with his imaginary angel mother. Then Abra thanks Cal for taking care of her that night, and the mood between them becomes quiet and romantic. There is a strong attraction between the two, and Cal leans in and kisses Abra, who hesitates at first, gives in, but then pulls away strongly. She turns away from Cal, crying out how she loves Aaron, trying to convince herself that what she did was wrong, and that she isn’t at all in love with Cal. Cal seems regretful and sad that he dared kiss his brother’s girlfriend, and turns away in shame. The dreamy, tender mood is gone, and is replaced with an atmosphere so intimate, that we feel humiliation as Cal must be feeling, disappointment that it didn’t work out, and the obvious feeling of betrayal that is so obviously radiated from the two. After this sad moment we hear shouts and the camera switches to just below the Ferris wheel, where people are pushing Gus, the German around. This angers Cal, and the last piece we see in this scene is as Cal climbs down the immobile Ferris wheel to take action, help the German and Aaron who is also there, gently talking to the angry mob. As he scrambles down we hear Abra calling after him, trying to get him back, still trapped in the ferris wheel seat.

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Abra and Cal in the Field
Nicolas A. 8C

This scene is set on a sunny morning in summer. Abra and Cal are sitting on a little wooden bench out in the fields, and Abra confides with Cal that when she was thirteen, she loved her father enormously and she was really angry and jealous when her father married for a second time after her mother’s death. She lived for a period in depression and thought nobody loved her. But then she pardoned her father for having married again, and they got on well from then on. This is very important because East of Eden is very much about giving and forgiving. Abra’s anecdote describes this only too well, for in a direct comparison Cal would be represented by the young Abra in the story, Adam would be Abra’s father and Aaron would be Abra’s father’s second wife, or could also be the diamond ring.
“And the minute I forgave him in my mind, I felt better.”

For this particular reason, in my opinion this scene is one of the most important in the film, because it gives us a great insight into the emotions felt by the main characters, in this case Cal and Abra, but also shed more light on the plot of the story. A good example could be the jealousy Abra felt for the second wife, because it is the mirror image of what Cal feels toward his brother. This, in both cases, will influence the story a lot, because they all throw away or lose something precious. Abra throws away the diamond ring and Cal’s act of revenge leads to Aaron going to war and dying.

Another key factor in this exchange is that it is the first time Abra actually shows she likes Cal, whom she will later love, because of the way she looks, talks and moves when she is around him. She is attracted by the “bad” side of Cal; the exciting and darker side of life. In fact she is the only character in the story who fully admits to being good and bad, and therefore, human. Maybe we can say that Abra is the most mature character in that she reflects and tries to understand her feelings and other people’s feelings. The attraction between Abra and Cal has a very complex implication, because Abra is Aaron’s girlfriend, and they will soon become engaged. I think Abra is another factor contributing to Cal’s anger at Aaron and Aaron’s with Cal.

Finally, in this scene, there is also a girl who was sitting on the bench before Cal arrives and seemed to be waiting for him. He treats her in an arrogant manner, sending her away as if he owned the bench and as if she was expected to obey him. This shows what kind of immature behavior Cal was capable of with girls before falling in love with Abra and discovering what love and respect means. The girl is one of the many observers in this film. Elia Kazan uses them like a Greek Chorus, and they all act as spectators, like we are doing when watching the film.

The Rooftop Scene
Eilif 8T

When the scene begins we see Cal climbing steadily up towards the second storey of the house. He walks over slowly to a window. The viewpoint changes so we see the back of Cal’s head and we are looking into the window where we can make out a person lying in bed. He taps on the window softly and whispers into the darkness ‘Abra.’ He does this again and Abra wakes up and asks for Cal to wait while she dresses. As Abra walks up to the window she can see that he doesn’t look well and that in fact he is slightly drunk. Cal says with dazed pleasure that he’s earned back all the money that his father lost in the frozen vegetable business. Cal plans to finally get his father’s love by giving him this great present - the money - and by throwing him a party that he will organize for his birthday. He asks Abra if she will help him set up the party and help him get some decorations to put up in the house. Then he says that he would like her to be there with him. After he says this however, he corrects himself and says, you, Aaron and I. The reason he says this is because before it sounded like he and Abra were a couple and he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, or for Aaron to get the wrong idea. Then they plan to decorate during Abra’s lunch break from the hospital. Cal bangs his head on the trim of the roof and Abra looks at him with concern. Cal then groans out, ‘Why did I hit Aaron, why did I hit him so hard?’ He then turns back to Abra and asks her if she really will help him and she says, “I’ll help you Cal.” If you followed along previously in the film you can see that Abra is building an intimate relationship with Cal. When she says those four words, “I’ll help you Cal,” it was her way of admitting her attraction and love for Cal. Cal starts to walk away from the window and looks down from the roof to the ground. Abra is looking at him wonderingly as she leans out of the window. He whirls around in his drunken state and ponders aloud about how he got up there after which he finds his entrance and uses it as an exit. The scene goes black and the audience is left gripping their chairs to see what will happen at the birthday celebration.

Cal’s Father Buys An Automobile
John B. 8T

In the previous scene, Adam Trask, Cal’s father, has just sent his lettuce crop to the East Coast via freight cars refrigerated with blocks of ice. Hope runs high in the Trask family that Adam’s invention will be a great success. In this scene, we see Cal, Adam, Cal’s brother, Aron, and Aron’s girlfriend, Abra, joining Will Hamilton, an old family friend and business partner, buying a new car for Adam in celebration of the exciting event. The scene begins with the family walking from the train station to the car salesman. Will has decided that Adam should get his own car now that he will soon be a rich man. This is a happy meeting. Will is full of hope and positive that the train will make it. Adam seems more concerned. However, as the scene progresses Adam loosens up and even jokes with the car salesman. Cal catches the joke and he appreciates that this is a special and rare event. It is a joyful moment for everyone. When Cal honks the horn on the car it shows how excited and gleeful the boys are, as well.

Roy is the engineer whose explanation of how to start the car is one of the few scenes of comic relief in the movie. Everyone is attentive and pretends to be listening seriously to how the car works, however, Adam is almost childish as he quietly teases Roy when the engineer explains the possible dangers involved in starting the ignition. Part of the humor is that Roy is probably not very highly educated but he knows his cars and thus, does not catch that Adam’s jokes are on him. The rest of the family sees the joke, as does the audience. When Adam makes the joke about the ‘blasted arm’ and the ‘blasted thumb’, it is the first time that the boys have seen their father being lighthearted.

Automobiles are a new invention and the audience joins in the thrill of the new event when the ignition catches on the first crank. The car is ready to go. Roy tells Will, Cal, Abra and Aron to repeat the instructions. However, just at that moment the police sheriff and another man from town enter the scene and the mood changes as they motion to Adam to step aside. The audience feels the tension that something has or is about to go wrong, in direct contrast with the upbeat spirit of the previous action. Adam’s expression goes from cheerful to worried in a matter of seconds. While he gets pulled aside, the others continue their chant with Roy. Only Cal notices that his father’s mood has changed and he immediately joins him to see what is wrong. Cal is also worried because he worked his heart out for his father, and only wants the best for him. He understands that if the train does not make it, his father will have lost all his savings. The mood is somber.

We soon learn that the snow at the pass had stopped the train and that the ice in the carriages was melting. In the final minute of the scene, Adam pulls out a rotten head of lettuce. The entire lettuce delivery had been ruined. The Trask family fortune was lost. But most importantly, Adam’s belief in himself was destroyed. It had been “presumptuous” of him to think that it would be he to invent food refrigeration. This scene is an emotional high point of the movie. It shows Cal his father’s kindness, but also his vulnerability. This is the first time in the movie where his father is not a serious man who lived by the Bible and only saw the worst in Cal. From this point on, Cal tries to buy his father’s love by recouping his lost investment.

The Birthday Party
Claudia 8C

The scene I chose is one of the many in “East of Eden” which struck me. I chose it for several reasons but mainly because I think that it is really different from other scenes in the movie for its breathtaking peculiarity. I chose it because it is particularly dramatic and realistic, but also because it is the turning point of the story. This turning point then leads to a series of events, which are closely related to Bible story about Cain and Abel.

In this scene, Abra and Cal (Julie Harris and James Dean) organize a surprise party for Adam’s birthday (Raymond Massey) where Cal planned to give his father the money that he had made, investing in beans. At first, Cal’s father’s amusement spread a wave of joy to the viewers: it seemed that Cal had finally managed to conquer his father and make him happy. Unfortunately, Aron (Richard Davalos) had noticed that Abra liked Cal better than him and did something unexpected to please his father and undermine Cal’s big surprise. He told Adam that he and Abra had decided to get engaged. At this point, Cal’s present had no value to his father, and when he opened it, his reaction was the opposite of the one Cal had hoped it to be. When he saw the money, Adam’s first thought was that his son had stolen it. Cal tried to explain that he had earned the money by investing in beans, which had brought a large profit. However, when his dad didn’t accept his explanation, Cal stormed out of the house crushed and crying. What Cal’s father had done left a mark in Cal’s personality and attitude. Cal’s rejection, just like Cain’s in the Bible, led to his brother’s death. One of the reasons why James Dean was chosen for the part of the main character was his sensitivity and vulnerability. For a man who grew up as an only child, Dean was particularly good at playing the sibling rivalry with Richard Davalos.

This scene is very different from the other ones in the film because it is completely improvised. Elia Kazan, the director, had noticed the tension which existed from the beginning and which he further encouraged, between Raymond Massey and James Dean. The ‘hatred’ on and off set between “father and son” was partly due to James Dean’s sudden improvisations, which Massey could not handle at all. Elia Kazan, instead of having these conflicts resolved, encouraged James Dean to improvise and make Massey angry. This worked perfectly for Kazan’s method acting, a technique in which the actor is totally carried through by his emotions. As a director, he enjoyed seeing the actual friction penetrate through the simply acted lines, making the dialogue real and effective.

The hug Cal gives his father was not scripted. Massey’s reaction to James Dean’s sudden embrace is completely natural, and so are Dean’s feelings in that scene. In fact, after having shot the scene, James Dean continued crying for hours, and could not be consoled by anyone. What makes the scene stand out from the others is its realism. Both actors were actually living the scene and naturally gave their best during the shooting.

I was very impressed by this scene because of the emotions that it gives the spectator. I felt as if I were living Cal’s feelings too, one by one, and my reactions were the same as his. Elia Kazan wanted this film to be particularly effective and to leave a mark in the viewer’s memory. Even if “East of Eden” narrates only the last part of Steinbeck’s novel, it had a great emotional impact on me which left me breathless.

The Birthday Party
Oscar 8C

I chose the birthday party scene because there are many emotions being expressed and important things are being said. It starts out with Cal and Abra alone. Abra has just finished preparing dinner and Cal has just washed up. They talk quickly because Mr. Trask will be home any minute. They quickly check that the room is in good shape. Cal spots two brooms used for cleaning and takes them to the kitchen because he doesn’t want to give the surprise away. Before they go outside to greet Mr. Trask there is almost a love scene between Cal and Abra. They both look at each other intensely but Cal breaks the moment by rushing out the door greet his father, who has just entered the gate on the front lawn. First Abra greets Mr. Trask and then Cal. Mr. Trask asks Abra if she be staying for dinner and she says she will. Before entering the house Abra signals Aaron, who was waiting outside quietly, to come in. Mr. Trask is very surprised and is happy before Cal shows his father his present but Aaron interrupts him and tells his father that his present can’t be given because it is an announcement that he is engaged with Abra. This pleases Mr. Trask immensely and he gives Abra a kiss and goes to congratulate his son. Abra is perplexed about this news because she wasn’t expecting it. Cal looks jealously at his brother and waits for his turn. Then Mr. Trask turns to Cal and asks him to continue. Now, Cal shows his present to his father who is stunned and has a questioning look on his face when he opens the parcel and finds a stack of money. He asks Cal how he earned all this money and the exchange between Cal and his father goes like this;
“Yes, we bought futures at cents... and the war came along and the price went sky-high. So, that's for you. It's all the money you lost in the lettuce business. It's for you. I made it for you. You will have to give it back. No, I made it for you, Dad. I want you to have it. You will have to give it back. Who? I can't give it. To the people you got it from. No, the British Purchasing Agency? I can't give it back. Give it to the farmers you robbed. We didn't rob anybody, Dad. We paid cents a pound, cents over market for that stuff. I sign my name and boys go out and some die. And some live helpless without arms and legs. Not one will come back untorn. Do you think I could take a profit from that? I don't want the money, Cal! I couldn't take it! I thank you for the thought, but… I'll keep it for you. I'll wrap it up and we'll just keep it in here... I'll never take it! Son, I'd be happy if you'd give me... something like your brother's given me. Something honest and human and good. Don't be angry, Son. If you want to give me a present, give me a good life. That's something I could value. I hate you!”

As you can see Cal’s father refuses the money because as an employee of the drafting board, he is sending men and young boys out to war and many of them will die or be injured. He can’t make money from that because he is making it from the deaths of soldiers. So this makes Cal very sad and angry at the same time. Cal, disappointed and feeling rejected again responds like a child by staggering out of the room, crying and saying, “I hate you”.

This is how the scene ends. During this scene emotions are turbulent. Cal is very eager at first but becomes sad and sadder as the scene develops. Abra too, is very eager and happy for Cal at the beginning of the scene but becomes perplexed when she hears the news that she is getting engaged. She is disappointed that Cal is sad and his father didn’t take the money. Mr. Trask is at first happy then surprised because he totally forgot about his birthday. He is very happy with news of his son Aaron getting engaged. Then he is stunned when Cal presents the money to him. He starts to get mad at Cal then tries to console him. Aaron at first is jealous and feels left out. This scene is very convincing because the director Elia Kazan and the author John Steinbeck had difficult relationships with their own fathers. Somehow, these tensions were transmitted in the father and son relationships in this work.

Bible Reading Scene
Davide 8T

I chose to write about the Bible scene because it was one of the scenes that I found the most interesting and because I also performed the scene in class and got to understand it better and find the real significance of it.
The scene starts with a long shot of the table and with Cal’s father who is reading the Bible with Aaron and Cal listening to him. Aaron seems interested as always while Cal has a bored and angry face. On his face we can see many expressions that prove that in this scene he acts as though he was doing it in real life and as if he was really angry at his father for something that he did to him off stage. Cal is forgiven by his father but strangely he is not happy about it and he keeps his bored look with the same expression as he had before which demonstrates that he was careless about what was happening and about what his father said. Cal starts to read the Bible as if it was the last thing he would do on earth, not so much because he doesn’t like to read but because his father tells him so and he surely doesn’t want to follow his father’s orders. He reads it with no emphasis and emotion and this obviously makes his Dad very angry. All of a sudden while Cal is reading his father who is at the end of his patience, screams at him angrily. He tells him that he is bad and that he has no repentance. While Cal is getting screamed at Aaron observes the scene with an indifferent look and since he has nothing to do with it, leaves the room. Cal admits that he is bad so his father feels ashamed for what he said and tells him the famous phrase about the difference between animals and humans is that humans have a choice and that they can make of themselves whatever they want.
I personally love this scene because I admire the way in which James Dean recites. Some of his expressions are really astonishing and impress me for how realistic they are. It looks like he is actually living this scene and he transmits such intense and sensational emotions which are so convincing that make me really enjoy this film.

Ferris Wheel Scene
Sara 8T

Abra is at the fair, waiting for Aaron. Abra wants to take a look around before she meets up with Aaron so she comes to the fair earlier. When she hasn't even gone very far, she gets stuck with a man who is being very pushy toward her. Cal sees her and she goes and helps her get away from the man, even though Cal is already with another girl at the fair. Cal leaves the girl he was with first and he walks around the fair with Abra. Abra asks Cal to take her on the ferris wheel.

When they are on the ferris wheel, Abra start asking a lot of questions, mostly the ones that she keeps on thinking of or questions that are bugging her. Abra asks Cal if Aaron really loves her because she doesn't think that she knows what love means anymore. She asks Cal about the girls that always follow him around. She asks about how they act or how they are. She is curious to know because she has never been able to be like them because she has had Aaron. She wonders if he is bad because he hangs out with girls. Cal is not sure so he asks her what she thinks. Cal is not sure because many people have told him he’s bad but then many have said he is not bad at all. She thinks that she is not good, at least not good enough for Aaron. She’s not sure if she even knows what is good and what is bad.

Abra feels that the way Aaron talks about love is good but she is sure it must be something more, something else, only she doesn't know what it is. When she realizes how much she has revealed about herself, she apologizes but she doesn't really know who else to talk to. She feels that she can't talk about this to Aaron because it would be like doubting their love. Abra doesn't intentionally tell this to Cal, she just has to tell someone how she feels and what she really is like and the opportunity is now while they just happen to be on the ferris wheel where they are alone and removed from the world below.

Cal finally, after everything Abra has said, says that of course Aaron loves her. That he must. Cal wants everything good for Abra because he likes her so much. Abra confides in Cal that Aaron thinks of her as a perfect woman who is good in every way but Abra feels that Aaron doesn’t really know who she is; that perhaps he sees her as the mother he believes is dead whom he has always idolized.

She thanks Cal for taking care of her and listening to her. Then they look deeply into each other’s eyes and kiss. The kiss shows us how Abra really feels about Cal; something she is always trying to push outside her thoughts by saying that she truly loves Aron and that they will soon get married. She also tries to make herself believe that Cal is bad and that she is afraid of him. When they come down from the ferris wheel Aaron is waiting for Abra and he is confused by where she could have been.

The Ferris Wheel Scene
Alex B. 8C

Amongst all of the scenes in the movie, the ferris wheel scene is the scene that sets up one of the movie’s most violent disputations. Cal finds himself at the Salinas carnival and also meets Abra there. He then willingly decides to wait with her until Aaron arrives. They decide to go on the ferris wheel. The mood foreshadows the little crush which is developing between the two, especially Abra. At the beginning there is some tension between the two but easily they start to develop a conversation. Abra wonders if Cal knows anything about Aaron’s love towards her. Abra doesn’t know if Aaron really loves her. She thinks that he is just hovering between loving her and not loving her; she can’t really tell. ‘ Does Aaron really love me? I seem to have sort of lost him. I mean,we’re going to be married someday, but... Well, if he does love me, he doesn’t. I can’t tell anymore.’ She starts to become curious about Cal’s interaction with other girls. Then she questions him about the girls he meets and if he really loves him. She notices that he goes with the girls without loving them, interpreting this as ‘bad’. Her crush moves to a whole new level; a higher one. ‘ You don’t really love them, do you? Is this because you’re bad?’ At this point in the dialogue, Abra starts to think she is bad. She becomes confused and can’t really tell the difference between good or bad anymore. She also starts to be a little overwhelmed by the fact that Aaron is so good. She thinks that she isn’t good enough for Aaron and that that is why he doesn’t show his affection to her so much anymore. ‘I mean, Aaron is so good... and I’m not. Not good enough for Aaron, anyway.’ Now, she is completely bewildered because she thinks she doesn’t know what love is anymore. She tries to convince herself that love is good; and only good, (like Aaron says) but deep inside she knows that it has something more to it. At a certain point she notices that she doesn’t have the qualities that Aaron looks for in a girlfriend. She tells Cal that she thinks that Aaron sees her as the mother he never had. She guesses that Aaron is in love with her maternal nature, but not her. After they look at each other in the eye for a long time, the two finally kiss. They also quickly become aware of the consequences so they stop and pull away from each other. An awkward silence occurs where many thoughts scurry in their minds. This shows the carelessness between the two and shows that Abra couldn’t possibly be a match for Aaron but more a match for Cal because of her rebel instinct, the desire to discover all there is about life. I think that the kiss was a clear foreshadowing of what could happen next between Cal and Aaron. I think that Aaron will be destroyed by the fact that Abra has betrayed him. He had already thought out how their ‘happy’ life was going to be; that they would get married, Aaron would continue his job successfully and that eventually they would have children. However, this rebel instinct she has isn’t intentional; it’s just a way of expressing her need to get out of Aaron’s perfect, dull and monotonous world. After they kiss, Abra tries to convince herself even more that she loves Aaron and that the kiss didn’t mean anything but it doesn’t take much effect on Cal; he doesn’t really react to it. The scene has an abrupt ending when Cal jumps off the ferris wheel in order to support his brother in what seems to be a misunderstanding which is taking place down on the ground. The fight which has begun down below turns into a fistfight. Cal has the urge to get into it and in fact he does. He intervenes for Aaron and stands up for his brother. However, instead of being happy, Aaron is deeply disappointed in Cal because he resents his brother’s use of violence. We see how Cal is always rejected by Aaron no matter what he does, and that he is also misunderstood by Aaron and Adam. Yet he is not misunderstood by Abra or Kate. This is ironic because he is not understood by ‘the good ones’ - Adam and Aaron; but on the other hand the ones that are ‘bad’ do understand him - Abra and Kate. Cal is caught in the middle between these two extremes.

Cal and Aron in the garden
Pietro 8C

East of Eden is a movie which contains a universal message; how it is important that a father loves his son. This film is in fact based on the relationship between a father and a son. Cal, the protagonist of this dramatic story, has a difficult relationship with his father because his father, Adam Trask, never gives him any sign of appreciation. His brother, Aron the "perfect boy", is very similar to his father. Cal is seen like a "bad guy " by both his father and brother while his brother’s girlfriend is attracted to him. Cal is actually a very sensitive teenager who feels very sad because his father doesn't accept him. I particularly liked the scene where Aron and Cal are talking in the garden of their house, after the dramatic events at the birthday party, because of how well it was acted.

Aron and Cal, two brothers with different personalities are arguing in a lonely and dark garden. Aron is mad at Cal because he thinks that he has been very bad with his father and because he thinks that Cal has shown off with his girlfriend. Cal instead is frustrated at the many insults that Aron is telling him and because he is jealous that his brother is loved by their father while he isn't. I think Cal, in this scene feels that his father doesn't love him because he resembles Cal’s mother; the wife who had left him.

The scene begins with Cal crying under a tree because of his father lack of acceptance. Abra, Aron's girlfriend, comes rushing through the garden to comfort him. This part is shot so that we can't actually see the characters because they are hidden behind the long, drooping branches of a big tree. Abra tries to help him. Aron, probably jealous at how Abra ran to console Cal, comes out of the house furious with him and tells him to never touch her again. He tells Cal that he is evil; that he is terrible and not to be trusted;
"Don't you ever touch her again.I don't trust you. You're no good.
You're mean and vicious and wild. And you always have been."

This is a very suspenseful moment because Cal comes out from behind the tree, walking with very slow, deliberate steps and an angry expression. When he is face to face Aron he stops. Aron, scared, doesn't move or speak. There is a moment where both of them are standing close to each other without doing anything.
Cal, feeling frustrated and jealous of Aron's ‘perfectness’ tells Aron that their mother didn't actually die as their father had told them. Now the scene's focus has moved from Aron to Cal. It is Cal who has taken over and is provoking Aron. "You want to go some place with me?”
“Why should I?”
“I got something to show you. Think you'll find it very interesting.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Maybe our mother didn't die and go to heaven after all, Aron."

Cal acts like he is hypothesizing that his mother didn't die, in order to make Aron puzzled.
He wants his brother to have doubts about his mother's death. He is trying to scare him. Aron tries to be strong but in the end he becomes too puzzled to respond. Cal tells him to face the truth, to stop living in his peaceful world and to look at how the real world is.

This scene uses light to create atmosphere. At the beginning the garden is well lit while later when Cal starts arguing there is a gloomy, dim atmosphere. The garden creates a suspenseful mood because of its emptiness and darkness. Another factor is the distance at which the scene is shot. It is shot so that we have an objective view of what is happening; we can see both of them and part of the garden. Cal continues to walk from side to side of the garden almost to unnerve his brother and us. These factors all contribute to making this scene one of the best in the movie.

I think this scene is almost a metaphor showing us how Adam and his wife became separated after the birth of their sons. In this case Aron is Adam while Cal is his ex wife. I liked it because of the suspenseful mood and because of the great acting that once again demonstrates Kazan's tecnique is perfect.

I was happy that finally the perfect Aron was forced to face the truth, and I was very moved by Cal who had suffered many mean insults from his brother. I think East of Eden is a great movie because of its theme that touches everyone.

East of Eden
Maita 8C

Introduction:
The story is set in 1917 around the First World War in a small town called Salinas located on the Pacific shore of California. East of Eden is a retelling of the Biblical Cain and Abel story and a thinly disguised tale of Steinbeck’s own youth and family history. The characters described in Steinbeck’s story are perfectly represented in Elia Kazan’s movie. James Dean as Caleb Trask (Cain), Julie Harris as Abra, Kate represented by Jo Van Fleet (Eve), Adam Trask played by Raymond Massey (Adam) and their oldest son Aaron played by Richard Davalos (Abel).

In the movie, Kazan takes full advantage of the mutual hatred between James Dean and Raymond Massey that had developed off stage to create tension and capture their animosity on screen. Raymond Massey was a “paint-by-the-numbers” actor who was thoroughly prepared and knew his lines for each scene, whilst James Dean was a method actor who tried to capture the character in him following his instincts and improvising unpredictably. Massey eventually became infuriated with Dean’s method of acting, especially in the climactic scene where Dean is supposed to walk out of the room stiffly, but he lingers and grabs Massey in an embrace while Massey struggles to release himself. This is Cal’s way of telling his father that all he wants is his love and Adam fails to understand that, sternly pushing his son away. Although this did cause some discomfort for Massey, it is considered one of the best scenes of the film.

Kazan focuses mainly on the final chapters of Steinbeck’s novel because he felt that he could relate to them. Kazan was raised by a strict Greek father who had a strong sense of right and wrong, the same way that Steinbeck was raised by a father who always knew what was right and what wasn’t. Kazan creates a simple morality tale that reflects the rebellious Fifties era and portrays all characters as a blend of good and evil. Kate is at first shown as a ruthless woman with no feelings, but further on in the movie, when Cal visits her, she shows her affection towards him using a gentle voice to welcome him. Aaron, who at first seems to be completely good, shows another side after he has found out the true story about his mother. Cal is represented as bad, but when his father decides to love him he finds peace and redemption. Adam Trask is depicted as good, but as the movie proceeds, we question how good he really is since he has hidden the truth about their mother still being alive. Abra is the only character in the movie that shows both good and bad. She thinks that she is not good enough for Aaron and is not sure if she is good or bad, but later finds out that she is made up of both.

“You're right. I am bad. I knew that for a long time...It's true. Aaron's the good one. I guess there's just a certain amount of good and bad you get from your parents and I just got the bad.” This is the way Cal feels because, having never felt loved by his father, he feels trapped in the bad person he uses to disguise himself and his vulnerability.

The Ferris Wheel Scene
Cal and Abra decide to go up onto the Ferris wheel before Aaron comes. They sit up there watching the people grow smaller and smaller and little by little they are separated from the world and all of its problems. The scene is carefree because they are surrounded by fun and games and feel like they can finally relax. Like the people below them, their problems and worries seem distant now, allowing them to express what is really on their minds. The scenes between James Dean and Julie Harris are always more relaxed than the scenes between James Dean and Raymond Massey because there was less tension off set. The tension expressed in scenes between Dean and Massey is completely nonexistent between Dean and Harris. Abra asks Cal about the girls that he goes out with, wanting to know if he really loves them. Abra then reveals her doubts about Aaron, asking him if he thinks Aaron really loves her. She doesn’t feel that Aaron knows who she really is, and feels that he is making of her what he wants her to be. Aaron never knew his mother, so he wants Abra to be everything good he imagined his mother to be. Abra feels bad compared to this ideal, because she is not completely good, but she is not bad either. She hears Aaron talk about their love, but she doesn’t feel the love and she knows love is good the way he says, but she also believes that is must be more than that. Meanwhile the conductor of the Ferris wheel has left and they are suspended in the sky where time doesn’t matter, as if time itself has been suspended as well. Cal and Abra kiss, but Abra pulls away saying, “I love Aaron, really I do”, hurting Cal tremendously. Abra is trying to convince herself that she loves Aaron, even though inside she knows she loves Cal. This scene ends abruptly, never letting the moment fully develop, because Cal climbs down the Ferris wheel to intervene in a fight going on down below. With this, the two characters are brought down to earth, where once again they have to face all the problems that await them, including their feelings.

The Station Scene
Antonio 8C

When Cal takes Aron to see his mother and he learns what she is, the truth,which he faces for the first time, hurts him deeply. Everyone has a good and bad side and in Aron’s reaction we can see his bad side. He and his father, who worked at the Draft Board sending people to war, had always been pacifists and wanted to help humanity. Aron goes to war to hurt his father because he is angry with the world which has shocked and disappointed him. When Adam arrives at the station Aron smashes through the glass window with his head, as if he is breaking his cage of goodness. He also frees himself from his cage after he faces the truth and can finally be himself.
Adam runs to the station and searches desperately for Aron, calling out his son’s name, looking through the carriage windows of the train hoping to stop him from going to war. During his struggle Adam’s voice is accompanied by a dramatic song. At first sight the station looks like hell, with the cries and anxieties of the young men going to what will possibly be their death. In fact Aron’s look is similar to one of a demon. He has red eyes, and has numerous cuts caused by breaking through the glass window. His face is streaming with blood. There is hatred in his face and his manic smile erupts into hysterical laughter when he sees his father. Instead, Adam’s face shows suffering and horror as he watches his son smash his head through the glass, his face covered with blood. When Aron draws back before hitting the window we see Adam from the point of view of a passenger who’s sitting next to Aron. We see Adam’s worried face waiting for his son’s response. Cal comes just in time to support his father as he collapses after suffering a stroke. While the train moves away from the station to King Town we can hear Aron’s crazed laughter fading out. Cal watches as the train disappears into the night and then he looks down at his father whom he is cradling in his arms. In his look we can see the guilt he feels for what he has done.

Cal and the beans
Celina 8T

In this scene Cal is looking at the beans growing. His father had the idea of freezing lettuce to then put on a train to New York, but this failed. So Cal goes into the bean business because with the war starting he could apparently buy the beans at 3 cents and then sell them at 5 cents. And he does this to buy his father’s love. Cal thinks that of the two brothers his father likes him less. He’s the devil in his father’s eyes while Aron is the angel who does everything right. Cal wants to impress his father for once, make him happy that he has him as a son. He goes to the bean field almost every day to watch the beans grow. During the months that they take to grow he becomes attached to them, since they’re what he thinks will make his father happy, what will turn his life around, and when he sells them he’ll get all the money back that his father lost. He treats them like his kids, goes to see how they’re growing, if he can help in any way.
Cal’s life has been one of struggling for approval, for some sign that his father loves him, that he wants him with him. But that sign has never come to Cal. When they’re loading the truck and he has the idea of getting the tunnel shoot from some people, he does it with good intentions but his father discovers that he stole it and tells Aron to make one. Aron is the good kid who his father always turns to while Cal is the one who tries so hard but doesn’t ever get his father’s approval. The beans for him are the perfect idea to gain his father’s approval. Adam is trying to get back all the money he lost through his new job at the drafting board, which makes him very unhappy so Cal assumes that when Adam gets the money back he’ll be able to go back to inventing. Cal’s intentions are good: earn his father’s approval, get back the money and make everyone happy. In his father’s eyes however it’s a terrible thing because he feels it’s like making a profit from the tragedy of war. In the picture to the right in fact we can see Cal trying to give his father the money, wanting him to accept it, and the gesture is just like him trying to make his father accept his love and return it. All through his life Cal has desperately wanted it, and the bean-business is like a ticket to this new life full of approval from his family, a new chance to start over. When the day of the birthday party comes up it’s like all his life has been: he’s full of expectations, full of happiness, he’s the one who prepared everything, he’s the one who’s going to make his father happy, it’s his day. And then his brother steals the scene away - by surprising him with announcement that delights him, making him happy and proud. Cal still believes he can reach his father and when he gives Adam his present he’s full of hope that his dad will finally be proud of him. But it all crashes down on Cal: his hopes, his happiness, his expectations - all are crushed when Adam stands motionless, telling him that he will never accept this gift. Cal turns away from him and staggers out of the room crying, ‘I hate you’.

The Birthday Party Scene
Daniele S. 8C

Introduction
Steinbeck’s story of “East of Eden” was inspired by the Biblical account of Cain and Abel, and at the same time it is a biography about Steinbeck’s ancestors and his life in Salinas. One of the most important goals for Steinbeck in writing this story was to depict some of the truth about his own life. The plot centers on the conflict between a father and his son. This parallels the Biblical story of Cain and Abel as well as Steinbeck’s experiences with his own father. In analyzing a particular scene from the film, we can see these similarities.

In the film, the father, Adam, has two young, adult sons, Caleb and Aron.
Caleb is moody and has become somewhat bitter toward his father. He believes his father loves his brother, Aron, more than he loves him. As the film opens we see an embittered Caleb and his father in a very difficult relationship. The relationship between Caleb and Adam is similar to the story of Cain and Abel, with Caleb representing Cain and his brother Aron, representing Abel. As the story progresses we see a jealous Caleb, the same way Cain felt toward Abel. The title of the story, “East of Eden,” was chosen by Steinbeck from the book of Genesis, chapter four, verse 16: “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.”

THE SCENE
Throughout the story Caleb observes instances where his father displays favoritism toward his brother Aron. The most important example is in the scene of Adam’s birthday. His reaction to the presents from both sons tells the story. When Aron presents his gift Adam’s response is, “ I couldn’t have wished for anything nicer.” Aron has just told his father that he and his girlfriend, Abra, are engaged. Aron says to his father, “But you haven’t opened Cal’s present yet.” “No,” replies Adam. “But I can’t imagine having anything better than this.”

This is an important scene because Caleb realizes his birthday present will not measure up, and will not be equal to Aron’s in the eyes of his father. The setting of this scene is a festive occasion; the celebration of Adam’s birthday. To show how important this scene is to the film and illustrate the difficult relationship between father and son, Elia Kazan, the director of “East of Eden,” filmed this encounter between Caleb and Adam at an angle, using the camera to show the distortion and tension and thereby accentuate the apex of their conflict.

Caleb’s present is the 5,000 dollars he made to replace the money Adam lost in the lettuce business when the ice melted. So, when Caleb gives Adam his present, Adam’s response is, “ You will have to give it back to the people you got it from....I don’t want the money Cal, I couldn’t take it....I’ll never take it....Son, I’d be happy if you’d give me something like your brother’s given me.”

Adam refuses the money because he does not want to profit in any way from the war. This scene is similar to the scene in Genesis between Cain and Abel, when God accepted Abel’s gift but not Cain’s. “And in process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell.”

Evidence of conflict and strained relationships existed in Steinbeck’s own life. His father, John Ernest, was always a very distant figure and did not involve himself in Steinbeck’s years of growing up. His father remained in the shadows, never giving Steinbeck the attention and love he always craved. John Ernest basically withdrew from being a guiding force in Steinbeck’s development and was never the supporting figure Steinbeck longed for. Steinbeck’s father was somewhat like Adam Trask in “East of Eden.” John Ernest was typical of the small-town businessman of the period of this story. He was very much like Adam’s character. Both men took their role in the community very seriously and were well respected. As role models, both fathers experienced failures in the world of business. These failures had a significant impact on both: Steinbeck in real life, and Caleb in the story depicted in “East of Eden.” For Steinbeck, the distance and failure his father experienced, produced lasting anger and psychologically affected him for the rest of his life.

The Ferris Wheel Scene
Elisa 8T

I think that the most beautiful scene in “East of Eden” is the ferris wheel scene. In this scene, Cal and Abra are completely alone and no one is disturbing them. Cal is at the Salinas carnival and meets Abra there. Cal decides to keep Abra company and wait with her for Aaron. They play around until they decide to go on the ferris wheel. In this scene we discover Cal and Abra's feelings for each other. Abra loves Aaron, or at least she's trying to convince herself that she does but the other hand she is attracted to Cal. At first obviously they are rather uncomfortable and anxious but they rapidly break this tension and start to talk.

Abra starts to ask Cal if Aaron really loves her. She says that she is very confused and doesn't know if she really loves Aron and finally, that she doesn't feel loved.
'Does Aron really love me? I seem to have sort of lost him. I mean, we're going to be married someday, but...Well, if he does love me, he doesn't. I can't tell anymore.'

When Abra realizes that Cal isn't very interested in this part of the discussion she asks about the girls that he meets and if he really loves them. Abra can see that girls are very interested in Cal, but he is careless towards them and only pays attention to Abra. We aren't very sure about Cal's feelings for Abra but we can say that it seems that he is interested and attracted to her.

'You don't really love them, do you? Why do you go out with them? Is it because you're bad?'

In this part of the scene Abra seems confused and starts to talk about good and bad. She describes herself as bad and starts to tell Cal that Aron is so good. She believes that she isn’t good enough for Aaron. I think that Abra loves Aaron as a friend, but doesn't really love him because he is too perfect and dull and so she sees herself as bad for feeling that way. Abra fits more with Cal than with Aron because she doesn't want a perfect and boring relationship. Abra likes being loved and she knows that Aron loves her in his way, but she thinks that love isn't only that. She is sure that it's more than that.

I think that the most important part of this scene is when Abra tells Cal that she's too bad for Aaron and that Aron imagines his mother to be like an angel and so he wants her to be like that too. This is an intimate scene, removed from the troubles of the world below them. They kiss, but quickly pull away from each other as they become aware of the consequences. When Abra pulls herself away from Cal, she immediately tries to convince herself that she loves Aaron and that the kiss didn’t mean anything.

The scene ends suddenly. Cal jumps off the ferris wheel to help his brother in a fight which is happening down below on the ground.

Cal and Abra's brief escape from the harsh realities of life is over.

The Lettuce Scene
Giorgia 8C

The “Lettuce Scene”, is a very peculiar scene. It is quite short, but meaningful. This scene is an important step in the unfolding of the story. It shows the change and confusion in Abra’s feelings, which later will become clearer as she faces reality and admits to herself and to Adam Trask, Cal’s father that she loves Cal. It also brings the story up another step, or brings it closer to the ending. We could call it a sort of preparation for the beginning of the end. It demonstrates once again, very human and realistic relationships between people during those times.

It starts off during a sunny day: everybody is at work, finishing up Adam’s lettuce project. Cal, who is very enthusiastic is seeing the results of his great idea; using a coal chute to transfer the lettuce from the carts that have brought it from the fields, to a table where people are working and then to the boxes, which are eventually put on the train. Aaron is not there and therefore Cal is the one doing, making and inventing things. He has great ideas but the problem is that he has the wrong approach. The idea of using a coal chute to roll the lettuce from the charts onto the table was really good but he shouldn’t have stolen the coal chute causing the loss of jobs to the other men. At that point the camera zooms out from the area where Cal is working and points instead at the train that is just arriving, with a big poster on it saying “Salinas Valley Lettuce”. The train is strong imagery. It is the symbol of those times. From the 1920s on it was one of the main ways to travel. The surroundings: the valley with the mountains, the trees, the beautiful blue sky patched with unsubstantial clouds, the fields and their workers gives the mood that is needed to actually start the scene. The poster highlights the greatness of Adam’s idea, its importance, especially to the Trask family. It shows that it will have a great impact on the story. The view of the lettuce fields, which are really vast, also shows the greatness of the project and its importance for the workers, the farmers and trade in general. Among the workers there are the girls who look at Cal in an admiring way showing that they are drawn to him and his mysterious character as Abra has discovered.

The camera now turns to film Cal’s father, Adam who is talking to the coal men who say that their coal chute has been stolen. Adam doesn’t imagine that it was Cal who took it, being himself so good and innocent and pure, he believes that the war and the wave of lawlessness is at fault. We, however, know right away who it was. The director Elia Kazan made sure we would notice by filming Cal at intervals, acting guiltily, hiding behind the other men in a suspicious manner.

While everyone is at work Adam calls Cal and asks for Aaron, the son he trusts to talk about business who at that moment is in the fields. He sees and compliments Cal for his ingenious and time saving idea of the coal chute without realizing that it is the stolen coal chute the men were looking for. The camera closes in on father and son and for once we notice that the camera angle isn’t slanted. This suggests that their relationship is quite relaxed and not tense like it usually is. As time passes the dream comes closer and closer to becoming true and we are held in suspense, wondering how the project is going to end.

That is when Abra comes in, daydreaming in an absentminded sort of way. She is fulfilling her duty by bringing Aaron his lunch but immediately stops to talk to Cal. This is inevitable; she is drawn to him. She seems very innocent in a place where everybody is at work. In the act of trying to act like a perfect companion she is trying to reassure herself by convincing herself that she loves Aaron and is trying to prove it to herself and the others. But the fact that she has to do such things to feel sure shows that deep down she conceals a doubt.

While on his way to Aaron with his lunch, Cal stops at some wooden steps. There is a little Mexican girl, Lydia, waiting for him. Aware that Abra is coming he sends her away by another tree. Girls are drawn to Cal because of his “badness” and his suspicious way of doing things that make him interesting. The girls who stay with him are not well-developed characters; we just glimpse them here and there and their relationship with Cal isn’t serious.

The surroundings; the few houses, the mountains, the flowers, the light, the trees and their own sense of freedom, create a peaceful moment that gives us an idea that time has been suspended. Lydia is the only thing that keeps reminding us that this is reality and not a dream, by making them not be completely alone.

Throughout their conversation we realize that Abra understands Cal to a certain level.
Abra explains how Cal feels in her own story. She experienced what Cal feels now but was able to overcome the situation. Her father was very similar to Cal’s father: both didn’t show their love enough. When Abra’s mother died her father remarried. Abra was jealous of his new wife just like Cal is jealous of Aaron. To get her father’s attention, Abra threw a diamond ring worth about $3000 that her father wanted to give to his new wife into a river: just like Cal threw all the ice down the chute. She hoped to get his affection this way but it didn’t work. She was punished but felt that she should have been loved even more for what she had done. She adopted a new method: she forgave him. Her father did not give her more attention than he had before but she automatically felt better. At this moment she faced the truth. This foreshadows Cal’s own father - son relationship at this point. Abra wants to talk to him because she feels like he is the only one who understands her fully. Abra feels like she is a grown up even though she understands kids better. Kids are people who do not want to see reality just yet, in other words just like Cal. She believes that being grown up means that you know how to forgive, to have compassion, understanding, see the truth and use this to make yourself feel better. This also shows that some adults aren’t grown up because they fail to understand.

Abra is feeling more and more drawn to Cal but is trying to convince herself that she loves Aaron. At the beginning of the film, she keeps on telling Aaron that she loves him, and now is trying to convince herself by talking about marriage.: she is fine with her father for a while, until she will be married. And by reminding herself that she is Cal’s brother’s girl. In fact when Aaron comes back, she hugs him tightly. To convince herself even more, she tries to fulfil all her duties with much care.

Adam is quite pleased with the way Cal is working but Aaron somehow undermines Cal’s glory by telling their father that it is a coal chute. At that point the camera zooms in on Adam showing his anger. Adam gives the task to Aaron again, slowly and visibly tearing Cal apart. When Adam is tells Cal to take the coal chute to the owners, their relationship is tense again. Although the camera isn’t on a distorted angle Adam is in a higher position than Cal. The coal chute is used as a symbol in this scene because it stands between father and son while they argue. It demonstrates that Cal’s invention, which represents his ideas, his being and his essence, is the thing, which stands between them. According to Adam, if it weren’t for his “bad” and devious character, they would get along just fine. Cal should have been like Aaron.

The acting is very natural and realistic. In fact the method used by the director, Elia Kazan, is called method acting, which consists of trying to create strong relationships between the actors so that while they are acting they express their feelings for each other and everything becomes more convincing and realistic. In other words, Elia Kazan encouraged a relaxed and affectionate relationship between James Dean (Cal) and Julie Harris (Abra) so that during the acting they pretty much expressed their real feelings. Equally, Elia Kazan encouraged a tense relationship between James Dean and Raymond Massey (Adam).

Adam’s idea, his greatest dream; to revolutionary trade, is coming true. The story represents how people used to live in those days, how girls’ freedom was restricted and how they were nearly used as belongings. Farms were one of the greatest sources of jobs, power and influence. This lively mood and hope for the future makes the audience happy, and prepares them for the drama which is unfolding.

The Birthday Party
Max A. 8T

The birthday party scene is the climactic scene of the movie. It opens up in their decorated living room where the birthday party will take place. The atmosphere is warm, affectionate and positive and the father is surprised at the effort that Abra and Cal have put into decorating the room. The father is physically affectionate with the two teenagers and very happy they prepared this for him, because he had almost forgotten himself.

When Cal’s father enters the room, Aaron stands outside observing the closeness between Cal and Abra. Cal hands his father an envelope that he begins to open but at that moment, Aaron intervenes. He’s the good guy who doesn’t have anything materialistic to give his father but rather announces his engagement to Abra. He says,“Dad, Abra and I have one too and we can’t exactly give it to you, I didn’t tell Abra I was going to do this but, we’re engaged”. With extreme happiness Cal’s father answers, “I couldn’t have wished for anything nicer”. Whatever present Cal is going to give him now, cannot be as good as Aaron’s present.

Things go from bad to worse for Cal because just a second later, Abra tries to draw Cal’s father’s attention by saying, “You haven’t opened Cal’s present yet”, and he answers, “I can’t imagine having anything better than this”. When Cal’s father decides to open the envelope, the scene focuses on Aaron trying to hug Abra but we see her step away. She is obviously disappointed and anxious about what has just happened.

The father’s reaction to the present of 5,000 dollars, completely demolishes Cal’s self-image. Adam Trask takes a moral stand against war speculation rather than recognize what this gesture meant to Cal. Hard earned money means honest work is the message. Cal’s money had been earned through speculation of prices which had flourished because of the war. Adam Trask continues to compare Cal’s present with Aaron’s present. The father’s rejection of Cal can be seen from his own words; “I don’t want the money Cal” and “If you want to give me something, give me something honest” and “If you want to give me a present, give me a good life”. By the end of the scene, Cal has resorted to a child-like behavior trying to get a hug from his father. The scene ends with Cal running out of the room whimpering like a small child as he cries out to his father; “I hate you”.

The Birthday Party Scene
Nicolas C. 8T

Cal had never worked so hard for anything else. The expression of hope on his face transmitted prosperity to those around him and to us. He had worked hard to gather the money for his dad and he was sure his father would like it and would thank him. Perhaps he would even prefer him to Aaron for a change. At least that was what Cal thought. The house was ready for the party with all the decorations that made it look like it was a child's party. Adam was surprised and touched by the party: 'Is it possible, I'm very touched', 'Presents, too. Isn't that nice. Look.'

Adam Trask was about to open Cal's present when Aaron intervened and gave him his; 'I didn't tell Abra I was gonna do this, but we're engaged'. The look of happiness on Aaron's face was not really happiness but satisfaction although from where Cal was positioned, he couldn't see it. At this point in the film the competition between the two brothers has reached a climax. They were in conflict practically over everything; Abra, their father's love, and their popularity in society. But Aaron’s position was declining which is why he decided to give his father this present at this critical moment. He knew Adam would love this news and it would also remind Abra that she belonged to him. Aaron approached Abra and tried to get her close to him but she moved away from him because she loved Cal and found horrible what Aaron had done to his brother. Adam finally opens Cal's present and finds the money but the way Cal earned the money through his bean investment was like making a profit from the war. This was not something Mr. Trask could accept. Cal was destroyed. All the money he had invested, all of that for just another disapproval from his father. To now we had never seen Cal so sad and crushed. He was crying and suffering and reached out to embrace his father because he wanted to feel accepted and needed his father's love at that moment. He wanted to feel loved but all he got was his father rejection and the words: 'Cal, Cal!' And so Cal runs out of the house crying, ''I hate you'', because he just could no longer cope with the fact that he wasn't loved. He runs out of the house feeling hurt, sad, angry and wanting revenge.

Cal and Abra in the field
Jose 8T

This scene is the most romantic scene of the movie in which we clearly see that Abra is in love with Cal. The setting is very romantic. It takes place in a field in which we find three significant elements; the tall green grass, wildflowers and the sunlight. I think that the tall green tall grass and wildflowers represent nature and also the shelter or haven in which Abra and Cal hide from the rest of the people. The sunlight instead, represents warmth, which creates an atmosphere of happiness, and these elements together, create a harmonic mood between nature and the characters.

Abra opens up to Cal early in this scene by telling him about her childhood. She explains how girls love their fathers and how at the age of thirteen she felt that her father didn’t love her. As she explains we discover that what has happened between her father and her is very similar to what is happening between Cal and his father. This foreshadows the events later on when Cal and his father will forgive each other and make peace. When Abra explains her past, she includes some details, which we can easily relate to Cal’s situation. She explains how she hated everyone in the world and would not speak to anyone when her father remarried. Cal is experiencing the same thing but in a later period. He is angry because he thinks that nobody loves him. In fact his mother had left when he and his brother were born, and his father always found Cal to be problematic. Later in the movie we see that the money Cal makes with his bean investment is rejected by his father. Abra also tells him about what she had done as a result of her anger. She took her stepmother’s diamond ring and threw it in the river. Similarly one of the things Cal had done to manifest his anger was to throw the ice down the chute to get attention from his father, and to protest against his father’s lack of love for him. At the end of the scene we see that Cal understands what Abra is talking about and becomes angry and sad because he can relate to her story. He thinks that she did the right thing by throwing the ring into the river.

The love Abra has for Cal is very evident in this scene. The setting creates the mood but her behavior clearly shows that she likes him. I think that Cal knows that Abra likes him and knows that he has to be careful with what he does because she is his brother’s girlfriend, which puts him in a dangerous situation, as he likes her too. Cal acts very discreetly and although we sense that he likes her, he holds himself back.

In this scene we also find like in other scenes, the observer who isn’t really a part of this story. In this particular case, the Spanish girl who is sitting on the bench before Cal and Abra arrive, sees everything but is not important, or part of story. Kazan uses her like the Chorus was used in ancient Greek Drama; to observe the human story which is being played out.

Cal and Abra in the Field
Shannon 8T

While observing different aspects of the film, I found that there was one scene in particular that really caught my eye. This scene takes place among the railroad tracks during the middle of a regular work day. All of the men working to help Adam Trask with his lettuce business are allowed a break to eat their lunch. That’s where the scene first starts off. The two main characters involved in the development of this scene are Cal and Abra.

They first encounter each other while Abra is waiting for Aaron to give him his lunch. Once these two get into talking, Cal, being the restrained person that he is, slowly starts to pull away from Abra as he goes to sit down near the tracks in a field of tall grass and wildflowers. When Abra enters she sees an opportunity to talk to Cal, because she is so fascinated by him and besides, it’s another person to talk to that’s not Aaron. I noticed that Abra is generally a person who relies on others for comfort, and she needs more than one person to share her expanding mind of thoughts too.

There is an instant connection between these two. As we see and hear their dialogue, we can tell immediately that they really are interested in what the other one is saying and that there is real meaning in the words they are expressing to each other. There are so many emotions running through their heads at one time that it’s very confusing. There is a bit of foreshadowing here, because deep down inside we see that these two see something in each other that they are attracted to; but they know they have to restrain themselves, because after all Abra is Aaron’s girlfriend and they are about to become a little bit more serious and spend a life together.

Abra senses this pain that Cal holds deep inside of him, and she tries to include Cal in the conversation by telling about some of her past that is relevant to the way he is feeling. While she is explaining some of her thoughts to him she recounts a story from her past that is very similar to the situation that is going on with Cal and his father. She tells him that when she was thirteen she felt neglected as well, almost as if nobody in the world loved her, and that this made her an angry, bitter person. Her dad was getting remarried; something she hated, and this made her feel awful. She took this as an opportunity for revenge for making her feel this way, so she decides to take a valuable diamond ring intended for her new mother and throws it into the river eliminating any proof of their soon to be marriage. The point she makes to Cal however is that the minute she forgave him she felt a whole lot better and their relationship continued on a stable note. Cal is surprised that Abra forgave her father even though she was the one who had done something bad, but Abra explains that she showed more maturity than her father in this case by forgiving him. She felt that he should have loved her more for what she did, rather than punish her, which is what he did.

This conversation foreshadows the crisis which will develop between Cal and his father, because it is exactly the way Cal is feeling and it explains in a way how his situation could be resolved, making his life complete. Their meeting takes place in is a very natural environment. It is out in the field where everything just seems so calm and idyllic, almost like a dream. They are so close to reality at that moment but the atmosphere is so empowering that they almost forget about everything that is happening in their lives apart from the moment they are living now.

Roof scene between Cal and Abra
Carolina 8C

In this scene Cal is drunk, and wants to see Abra. As he is drunk he climbs up onto the roof of Abra’s house, and knocks on her window.
Abra doesn’t know who it is so she goes to the window and sees Cal who does not look very well. She asks him what is going on and Cal replies that, yes he is drunk, but he really wanted to see her and that when he looks at her, he feels so much better.
Cal tells Abra that he earned all the money his dad (Adam) had lost on the lettuce business. He earned it all back by investing in beans which had made a good profit because of the war. His dad’s birthday would be in a couple of days and he wanted to give him that money as a birthday present.
Cal wants Abra to help him to decorate the house, get cake, birthday stuff, balloons and party things to make a surprise party for Adam. Abra is really happy to help Cal, but a little concerned for him because he is quite drunk and doesn’t look well. At a certain point Cal feels really sorry for the way he hit Aron. He does not know why he hit him, and he keeps on asking to him self why he hit him so hard. Then he asks Abra if she is really going to help him. Abra says she really wants to help him and she is happy for Cal because he is trying to do good things for his family, especially for Adam.
Even though Cal has had a little too much to drink, he knows what he is talking about. Even though he has a lot on his mind like the birthday party for his dad, what food he should get, how he should decorate the house, what the cake should be, he is also thinking about why he hit Aron so hard, and wonders whether Aaron will ever forgive him.

The Birthday Present
Vittoria 8T

"You're right. I am bad. I knew that for a long time...It's true. Aron's the good one. I guess there's just a certain amount of good and bad you get from your parents and I just got the bad." This is one significant extract which shows the main theme in this film, which I think is love. As we can see, Cal (James Dean) and Adam Trask (Raymond Massey) were the two main characters in conflict. In the film, Cal is everything that is bad, and never obtains the love he craves from his father and this made him become rebellious and sullen while Adam, his brother, represents goodness, from Cal’s point of view. In fact, Elia Kazan, the director of this film, takes full advantage of the mutual hatred That Massey and Dean develop throughout the film, to create the screen tension and capture the observer. This technique, Kazan discovered, radically influenced the film, making most of the scenes more emotional, realistic and full of tension, since the hate between the two, took place even in reality.
The scene which really caught my attention was the scene where Cal gives his father all the money he earns on the ‘bean investment’ he made during the war period when the price went ‘sky high’. His intention was to give his father all the money he had lost in the lettuce business.
During the scene we mainly notice the way the father acts with Cal, and we can easily compare the way he behaves towards Aaron with the way he treats Cal.

This scene is shot from different points of view.
As father and son talk, the camera is pointed on their faces, while as Cal kneels down by the table the camera points to Cal’s back, with his father’s hands on it. In this scene, we see that Mr Trask is trying to comfort Cal, but he can’t because he doesn’t want to show his son the love he feels towards him. Right after this shot, the camera zooms in on Aaron’s face. This reveals Aaron’s resentment towards his brother and especially towards Abra; because he knows she is beginning to like Cal.

After having his gift of 5,000 dollars rejected by his father, Cal gets up confused and surprised. Cal (James Dean) improvises in this scene by pushing his father against the wall while he’s crying and sobbing, and finally hugging him, while his father remains rigid. In this scene, as Cal pushes Mr Trask against the wall, we see Cal’s face then when Cal hugs his father we see the two characters standing together. This scene is quite significant because we see how much effort Cal has put into realizing the party for his father and that even though he tried his best, Adam Trask doesn’t accept or value it.

As I was watching the scene, I noticed that the actual hate between the two characters (Dean and Massey) was very evident especially in one important part; when Cal looks at Abra searching for ‘hope and luck’ as Mr Trask asks him where he had got the money from. In this scene, as Cal looks at her we see Aaron’s furious face showing anger towards his brother, because he realizes that he has lost Abra completely.
Light is used very naturally and realistically and comes mostly from the lamps, so since it was evening, a small quantity of natural light was present.

As soon as the scene between the father and son finishes, Cal hurries outside to the garden which has a symbolic meaning of freedom. Perhaps he rushes outside so he can free himself and finally let go his anger and shock.
The scene was very touching and interesting from different points of view, especially after I discovered that a part of it was improvised. I really enjoyed watching this film because thanks to the wonderful ability of the actors I was able to get into the story and observe closely all the different points of view.

Cal is punished after the Ice scene
Ascanio 8T

I chose to describe the scene that shows Cal being punished after pushing down the ice chunks and wasting all of it. This is where the scene shows Cal, his brother, and father gathered together at their dinner table. It is night and Adam Trask is scolding Cal for what he has done. He wants his son to read out loud some verses of the Holy Bible asking for forgiveness. The scene is set in a dark and gloomy room. Cal is sitting at the table holding his head in his hands. He seems not to respond to what Adam, his father is reading from the Bible. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven…”, which underlines the strong religious beliefs Adam Trask has. This is not the same for Cal. Aaron looks at Cal disapprovingly . His character is more like his father’s which explains why Adam prefers Aaron. Cal is more like his mother whom Aaron believes to be dead. “And you are forgiven Cal.”

Adam asks Cal: “Why did you push that ice down?” Cal says, “I don’t know.” He doesn’t know and doesn’t like to admit the truth. It was just a childish attempt to get attention from his father. He wanted to be accepted and loved by his father. Adam asks him for some possible reasons for what he did: “Was it vengeance? Anger? Fear that I would punish you for not coming home last night?” Cal invents a childish and irresponsible justification for his behaviour: “I wanted to see it slide down the chute.”
Deep inside does Cal really know the reason for his action or is he not brave enough to say what really happened? Adam Trask asks Cal to read some verses of the Bible that have to do with forgiveness. Aaron, his brother is excited about the idea and asks if he could read it giving the example as a good and responsible son. “I’ll read it dad.” Adam answers that Cal must read it because he is the one that committed the sin “Unto the Lord”.
The room is silent. Adam hands the Bible to Cal and tells him to start reading from the fifth verse. Cal seems to be distant from what he is reading. At first he reads fast and reads out loud the number of each verse. Adam interrupts him by correcting him: “And I suggest a little slower, Cal. And you don’t have to read the verse numbers.” Cal is weak and the lack of love from his father brings him to self-destruction. He is not selfish or mean he just doesn’t know how to get his father’s attention and love. All his bad actions are made to call attention. He’s suffering deeply the jealousy for his brother. Often he is humbled in front of Aaron. Aaron doesn’t help his brother’s situation and at the end he finds an excuse to leave the room. After Adam’s angry outburst, Cal decides to admit, “You’re right. I am bad. I knew that for a long time.” Cal maybe figures out that saying what his father wants to hear is the only way out. On the other hand his father is conscious of his severe authority and of Cal’s fragility because he says, “I didn’t mean that, Cal. I spoke in anger.”

Roof-top scene
Silvia 8T

The scene I chose to analyze is the ‘balcony scene’. This happens after the fight, which happens between Cal and Aaron. During the fighting scene Cal initially wants to help Aaron defend their German neighbor and his pride. With all the commotion and action happening though, Cal ends up getting mad at his own brother and punching him instead. After the fight Cal goes to see his friend and ‘business partner’, where they come to an agreement that the following morning they would collect the money they earned from selling beans. This elevates Cal’s mood, reminding us of the kindness and loving person he really is.

The following scene is set in the middle of the night. There is a soft, but somewhat piercing music in the background. The sky is dark and everyone is sleeping. Cal is still awake. He is still dizzy from all the alcohol he had drunk after the brawl with his brother. We see him climbing up the roof of a house. Clumsily, he reaches the window he was looking for. Gently he whispers Abra’s name and knocks on the glass pane. After some time we see the young woman slowly awakening. She is confused and still not fully aware of what is going on. ‘Who is it?’ she asks. When she hears that it’s Cal, she swiftly gets dressed and comes to the window. She is dressed in a fine blue nightgown, and her face seems to glow in the midnight air. Since she has no idea of what is happening, she is obviously worried. Straight from the start she realizes he is drunk and she is concerned about him.

‘Can you keep a secret?’ he asks, in an very soft voice. When she nods, Cal tells her about the way he earned back all the money his father had lost in the lettuce business. He seems relieved to finally tell her; as if she is the only one he can really talk to. She is happy to hear the news, but most of all delighted for Cal. She knows how hard it is for him to accomplish something that will make his father proud of him, and they both believe that for once he will succeed. Cal then asks Abra if she can help him organize a surprise birthday party for his father, where he will present the money as a gift. The young woman agrees to help him without hesitation. She smiles and looks joyful. At that point their gazes meet and there seems to be a connection between them, a small, yet very powerful spark.

Suddenly, that fire seems to have burned out and Cal’s happy expression fades away. He slowly rubs his head against the fine wood of the house, lost in thought and tiredness. As he begins to caress the wood with his forehead, he starts to mumble, as if he has trouble finding the right words to say. Suddenly, he bangs his head against the wood, and closes his eyes, as if he doesn’t want to see Abra or the world around him, and make everything bad disappear. ‘Why did I hit Aron? Why did I hit him so hard?’ These words are the expression of his guilt, as he regrets all he has done that day. Cal is truly sorry and ashamed of his actions, but he knows it is too late. As he says these words, so true and honest, the camera shows Abra as well. She listens to him and from her expression, but mostly her eyes, we are able to tell that she understands him and wants to do anything she can to help him.

As he gently rocks his head against the edge of the house, Cal leans over, holding on with one hand only. He turns around and gazes at Abra. ‘Will you help me? Will you? Will you really help me?’ As he says this, it looks like what Cal needs is not help for his father’s party, but the certainty that at least one person is going to be there for him. I believe he needs to know that he has someone to rely on, and the person he really wants is Abra. The camera, at this point, turns to face her. The point of view changes because up until now, it was as if the camera were a by-stander, looking from an external point of view. In this short piece though, the shot is a subjective one because it appears as if the camera were looking through Cal’s own eyes. Abra here, talks slowly, telling Cal she will help him. Cal sees her as an angel, as hope, shining through his horrible night and illuminating his way. I think Elia Kazan chose to show her through Cal’s vision, so that we could clearly see the way he needs and loves her, and the way she, inevitably, can’t help having feelings for him as well.

Cal now begins to leave, walking backwards and never taking his eyes off Abra’s. As he does this though, he almost falls off. The most probable reason may be the alcohol, but his feelings and emotions have surely contributed. Abra then tells him to be careful and just by glancing at her we see that she is sincerely worried about him. Cal regains his balance but then looks around himself confused, asking ‘How did I get up here?’ Soon after he notices the place he had climbed on his way up.

The last image is of Abra, as she hugs the window’s edge and closes her eyes. I believe she is just imagining for a short moment how life would be with Cal, but also what she can do to help him now that he is trying his best to be a better person. I believe Elia Kazan wants to make us realize that she, differently from everybody else, doesn’t see Cal as ‘bad’. She is the one who truly knows him and she clearly can see the goodness and beauty inside him.

I found that this scene is one of the few scenes that captivated me the most. It is not necessarily the one filled with more emotion or action, but it has such a deep meaning that I prefer it among others. It reminds me of the famous ‘balcony scene’ in Romeo and Juliet. I particularly enjoyed studying Shakespeare last year and, even though East of Eden is a completely different story, this scene and the other have many similar aspects. For example, in Romeo and Juliet the ‘balcony scene’ is when they express their truest feelings for each other. In East of Eden, Abra and Cal don’t do that explicitly but on some other and less apparent level. It is easy, from the way they look and talk to each other, to understand their truest and deepest feelings that hide behind every word they say, as a fascinating declaration of their love.