Significance Of Cain And Able Story In

East Of Ede Essay, Research Paper

While Samuel, Adam, and Lee are trying to pick names for the twins a biblical reference to the Cain and Abel story arises. The three men have an elaborate conversation about the story which leads to the conclusion that the nature of man has characteristics of both good and evil, and the Cain and Abel story precisely names and describes those characteristics. With the help of Samuel and Lee, Adam picks the names Aaron and Caleb. Immediately after the boys are named Samuel says, “Caleb and Aaron now you are people and you have joined the fraternity and you have the right to be damned”(272). Samuel Hamilton s statement can be explained by an analysis of the Cain and Able story. Cain was sinful, and Cain chose to kill his brother Able in outrage. After Cain killed Able, Able was not able to have children, primarily because he was dead. God punished Cain by banishing him form the garden of Eden. Also, god marked Cain and said that if any one should kill Cain their punishment would be seven times worse. The acts of Cain and his punishment have several effects on mankind. First, mankind is the children of Cain; therefore, we have the ability to sin like Cain. Also, we must live east of Eden. Because Cain was banished from Eden, all of his children, mankind, were banished from Eden. Finally if anybody were to kill Cain or mankind their punishment would be seven times worse than Cain. Fortunately, there is no example of this because mankind has never been totally killed. When Caleb and Aaron were named the became part of mankind. The were people, and were the damned children of the damned Cain. Caleb and Aaron can not live in paradise; they must live east of Eden.