“I believe there are monsters born into the world. . . misshapen and horrible. . . accidents and no one's fault. . . punishments for hidden sins. . . [their] face and body can be perfect. . . ” but they are the product of “a twisted gene or a malformed egg.” . . » (71). Literature, throughout history, has conveyed a multitude of themes, from the struggle to understand divine intervention to adversity to the dramatization of life and death. One of the most prestigious and conventional themes is the conflict between good and evil. Demonstrated through numerous works of literary merit, this discrepancy burns intensely through the pages of history stretching back as far as the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Although this idea is deeply rooted in the past, its relevance nonetheless remains one of the most controversial topics known to man. Author John Steinbeck sparked a fascination with this controversy and eventually produced his most ambitious work, East of Eden, to create a symbolic story that would have meaning for all. John Steinbeck's East of Eden fundamentally captures the essence of the battle between good and evil through the dramatic use of symbolism, which insinuates the biblical story of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry between their sons , Cain and Abel. Early in the novel, the narrator depicts the glorious Salinas Valley, which serves as a symbol of the struggle between good and evil that Adam and Eve face after their banishment from the Garden of Eden. The book's focal point, the Salinas Valley, parallels, as the title suggests, the land "east of Eden" in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In this infamous anecdote, the world's first evil or sin is created, ...... middle of paper ...... kiss carefully. East of Eden illustrates the idea of ​​good versus evil through the dramatic use of symbolism that alludes to biblical tales of the past. Using the Salinas Valley, a scar on Charles' forehead, and Lee's timshel as symbols, the story of Cain and Abel is resurrected repeatedly to convey the message that good and evil are not necessarily a controversial issue. 'extremes, but also include a gray dimension. domain that John Steinbeck ultimately depicts. East of Eden offers a different perspective on an ancient controversy that lights up the pages of history books. Steinbeck ultimately proposes the idea that although "there are monsters born into the world," timshel "may be the most important word in the world," proposing the idea that humans have the power of free will and that humans can therefore choose their destiny between good and evil. (71, 301).