25. In "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck, who was Cal Trask's sibling?
From Quiz My Less Well Known Sibling
Answer:
Aron
Set in California, the main part of this work tells the story of the twin sons (Caleb and Aron) of an unbalanced and murderous mother and a decent, hard-working father. The biblical theme of the rivalry between Cain and Abel parallels this work, as does the pivotal question of pre-destination versus free will. There is also an earlier story of the rivalry between the boys' father and his own brother.
On reaching adulthood, the darker-skinned Caleb decides to work as a farmer, while the fairer Aron chooses to become a priest - a shepherd of men. Their father, Adam, has in the meantime, lost the family fortune. Don't you love the biblical parallels? Caleb, who is the more troubled of the two boys, discovers that his mother, who had left the family home long ago, still exists and is running the darkest of brothels. Lovely reference to Eve, I don't think. They blamed women for everything, those old boys.
He also decides, in an attempt to win his father's approval, to restore the family fortune. As a result, he manages to acquire much wealth through his exploitation of desperate farmers. On the same night as Aron's return from his studies and his decision to quit those studies, Caleb, to draw his father's attention back to himself, decides to present his father with a large sum of money. To his dismay, his father refuses to accept it, and tells Caleb to return it instead to the farmers he exploited. Not knowing that Aron is dropping out of his studies, he then holds Aron up to Caleb as an example of all that is desirable in a son. As a result of this, Caleb, in a fit of jealousy, takes Aron to the brothel and reveals to him what their mother has become. Aron is horrified and refuses to have anything to do with her. This rejection causes their mother to commit suicide. Before she does however, she signs over her own ill-begotten fortune to Aron.
Aron, in reaction, enlists in World War I and is promptly killed. In the interim, Caleb falls in love with Aron's old girlfriend, and she redeems him from his own dark nature. Adam has a stroke but is persuaded before the novel closes to forgive the dark-browed Caleb and give him his blessing. His blessing though comes in the form of an ambiguous word meaning "power to choose". Caleb has been awarded the power of choice over his own life and the future direction this will take.