Adam stood swaying in the lantern light and then he turned and ran. ‘Thou mayest rule over sin.’ The old gentlemen smiled and nodded “That land out there—would you help me to make the garden we talked of, the windmills and the wells and the flats of alfalfa? Song- "Timshel" by Mumford and SonsCascade High School (Clayton, IN) AP Literature and Composition project on the novel "East of Eden" written by John Steinbeck It was a personal opponent and one he could lick. The King James version says this—it is when Jehovah has asked Cain why he is angry. “I’ve wanted to tell you this Well, to go on, I went to San Francisco to the headquarters of our family association. thought about the story, the more profound it became to me. Lee came back with his stone bottle and three little porcelain cups so thin and delicate that the light shone through them. Many believe that Timshel is left in open, giving the character the choice. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. “If you had only told me about your studies earlier it might have made a great difference, Lee.” Can you imagine four old gentlemen, the youngest is over ninety now, taking on the study of Hebrew? “Liza says I am contentious, but now I’m caught in a web of my children—and I think I like it.” “Yes. What is that word, Lee?” “I don’t know. He shivers and cries sometimes in his sleep.” “I don’t want you to.” “That’s it.” “Lee said, “And you named him ‘Doxology.’ ” know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any They know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any age or culture or race. Timshel is a Hebrew word that translates to “Thou Mayest.” Which at first doesn’t seem all that important. I compared the translations we have—and they were fairly close. This is not theology. I do see. It wasn’t long before they were ahead of our rabbi; he brought a colleague in. My old gentlemen The word Timshel was brought to most people’s attention by John Steinbeck in his novel East of Eden. With that come love and hate, fear and hope, friendship and betrayal and in this being able to find the strength rimshel wisdom to see that you essaay a choice. “It seems a time for honesty,” he said at last. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Samuel said softly, “I think for once I will not be careful. “I don’t think so, but that’s only a matter of time. It might be the most important word in the world. Lee said, “I’d have liked to serve it under the tree like the other times, but the air is chilly.” “What medicine?” What is it you want to say?” important?”, Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. But it is worse than that. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. And I’ve tried to It is easy out of laziness, out The ranch was a relative, and when he left it he plunged a knife into a darling. Think what it would be like, acres of sweet peas and gold squares of calendulas. And the Chautauqua? All of these years I’ve cheated Liza. It was very new then. Something about your tone.” “There’s something changed about you, Lee. “Here am I.” The old man chuckled. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. They smoke their two pipes of opium in the afternoon and it rests and sharpens them, and they sit through the night and their minds are wonderful. Yes, the story. “I guess it’s funny,” he said. And there are “He’s all right. To Liza it was simply death—the thing promised and expected. “Then I got a copy of the American Standard Bible. interested,” he said. Mr. Hamilton, you should have sat through some of those nights of argument and discussion. I came to say good-by.” them met and called me in. That says the way is open. Adam was not a young man any more. “Don’t tell him,” Aron said quickly. “He spells it with one a. “Then I got a copy of the American and three-quarter verses of truth and tells a lie with one verb. “You’ll see when they come home from school. “How about your boys—do you love them?” Lee’s head snapped around and he inspected Samuel. Then, if the poison has not gone too far, your dog may recover. “I got your letter, Lee. great story would know exactly what he wanted to say and there He has a pinched chest and a big behind. stew about it. The crippled and crooked come there for satisfaction. “I told you I was getting more Chinese. This is not a promise, it is an order. But I’ve let the shooting go. “I know what you’ve done for me,” Adam said. “I know I wouldn’t dare tell it to many people. “Well, think about it. Are you interested?” “I don’t understand it. curiously divine mind. cuts the feet from under weakness and cowardliness and Lee said, “These old men believe a true story, and they know a true story when they hear it. Now, there are many “Yes, I think I would. “There, you’ve said it again,” said Samuel. “I went there because in our family there are a number Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. I gave it another name, but maybe I didn’t want them to be able so easily to go away from me in a direction I couldn’t follow.” made.”, Samuel put his palms down on the table and leaned forward and “Ten years nearly,” said Lee. “I would if I could.” “What misery?” Samuel demanded. Samuel glanced at him. Then he’s gone and you blast your conscience to shreds that you did not see him.” “Yes, I do. They heard him falling over the brush and scrambling and clawing his way upward on the slope. “Good-by, Samuel,” Lee said, and he walked hurriedly back along the road. Timshel is introduced by Lee to Samuel and Adam in chapter 24 of East of Eden. I began to love my race, and for the first time I wanted to be Chinese. Our great families have Una’s death cut the earth from under Samuel’s feet and opened his defended keep and let in old age. “There’s a lot of wormwood in this. Samuel said, “Get on with it, Lee. Next page Important Quotations Explained page 2. Adam said, “Maybe you should put him out of his misery.” That says the way is open. The Timshel Songfacts explains: The song was directly inspired by John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, which parallels the Cain and Abel story in Genesis. It takes care of its own.” “I want to hear,” said Samuel, and he looked at Adam. down in one gulp. “That’s good,” said Samuel. Without the shock he will surely die.” Samuel nodded. “Are you sure you’re right?” Lee asked anxiously. He, and all around him, was immortal. I have wondered why it is that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death than others. The end of East of Eden can literally be summed up in one word: timshel. The Manchus are not overlords and we do not wear queues, “You’ll see when they come home from school. You’ve worked hard enough on that dust heap of yours.” Now, there’s your medicine. I think she would maybe have bolted her heart shut and thrown the key to hell.” “But I take my two pipes in the afternoon, no more and no less, like the elders. To Liza it was simply death—the thing promised and expected. effect as absinthe if you drink enough of it.”. That says the way is open. Mr. Trask didn’t want me to. “It was your two-word retranslation, Lee—”Thou mayest.’ It took me by the throat and shook me. Did you ever hear that Cathy was in Salinas? It was a good thing that she did not know what went on in his mind, and, through his mind, what happened to his body. No animal moved about, neither grass-eater nor predator, and the air was so still that the dark limbs and leaves of the live oaks stood unmoving against the Milky Way. of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, ‘I thinking—the beautiful thinking. And she comes sweetly to your bed, and you, hardly breathing, turn back the covers to receive her and move your head over on the pillow to make room for her head beside yours. “If I had a medicine that might cure you and also might kill you, should I give it to you? those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too “I will not be responsible for the murder of more chickens,” said Samuel. “He’s about as ugly a crow bait as I ever saw,” Adam said.” thinkers in exactness. “Think about that, Lee.” “I know,” said Samuel. “Well, in that case—” You thought I would change. He has an iron mouth and he still fights the crupper. Published in September 1952, East of Eden has been described as John Steinbeck’s most ambitious…. It brought them out of their Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek.” He even has an ugly disposition. Inspect yourself, man.” “What do you mean?” “You’re a brave man,” Lee said. It’s quite a drink,” he said. Lee walked to the shed with Samuel. And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. He said at last, “You have never let her go.” “But I take my two And, “Don’t you tell,” said Aron. And if I should have anything on my conscience it won’t be for long.” Adam said, “I’m afraid I didn’t listen enough—or maybe he didn’t talk.” It was a proclamation of the new government. Samuel didn’t care. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. This has been my judgment. “Sit down, boys.” China is free. Now, there’s your medicine. Lee said, “I’m going to tell you. “Do you think I was that wrong?” Key Idea #3: Timshel! General CommentI've just read John Steinbeck's East Of Eden and have done a lot of thinking about this song since.Too much thinking, actually. And my life which is ending seems to be going on to an ending wonderful. “Then I got a copy of the American Standard Bible. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph. But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. “Dlinkee Chinee, fashion,” he said and poured the almost black liquor. She owns a whorehouse, the most vicious and depraved in this whole end of the country. You should see Hebrew written in “Did you know about her?” It’s a good thing to be loved, even late.” There’s not a queue left anywhere.” I’m going away, Adam. The Manchus are not overlords and we do not wear queues. It’s quite a drink,” he said. The right to left didn’t bother them as much as it would you, since we write up to down. Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. She didn’t quite know what he was up to but, like a good and cautious mother, she knew he was up to something. Samuel nodded. entirely,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone could see it,” Samuel said. “Of course I’m not sure. “Cal, don’t tell me you’re a gardener?” “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time. And I began to stew about it. And his feelings will be hurt if we don’t visit him in Paso Robles. “It’s time, Lee.” A man may spend many years pondering a sentence of the scholar you call Confucius. “Why do you come to lecture me? Why do you feel its importance?” Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the centers where any member can get help or give it. “I find myself defending him—to myself. porcelain cups so thin and delicate that the light shone through You’re like a coyote sniffing around a dead cow.” Lee, if I am wrong—listen—if I am mistaken, I accept the responsibility and I will take what blame there is to take.” Would you shoot him, Adam?” LARGEST Free Essays Database: Over 180,000 Essays, Term Papers, Research Paper, Book Reports. The sound of him stopped only when he had gone over the brow of the hill. You said good things.” It’s coming now.” sentence of the scholar you call Confucius. Not simply in terms of form, as the book is some 600 pages long, but also in terms of content. “Do you believe that?” “I’ve got thirty-five Belgian hares, sir,” Aron said. I’m sorry.” “Lee and Adam walked out to the shed with Samuel to see him off. But he hasn’t changed much. through the night and their minds are wonderful. And unto thee They’re like two sides of a medal. felt that these words were very important too—‘Thou shalt’ and The Troubling Concept of Timshel in East of Eden Great Books Guy Great Books Project 15 Feb 2018 John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is a heavy book. Why is this word so “Do you remember when you read us the sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis and we argued about them?” “Do you take pride in your hurt?” Samuel asked. Increasingly it was more difficult to fight the aches and stiffnesses which tried to keep her in bed in the morning—not that they ever succeeded. If I asked you, would you do me one more kindness, and maybe save my life?” The novel’s title, East of Eden, is not merely a reference to the paradise-like beauty of California, where he grew up and which he describes in beautiful detail. And I’ve always thought it was the kindness that comes from not wanting any trouble. Adam said, “Do you believe that, Lee?” I'm certain my real name would make a few people star struck, and therefore came up with a psuedoname. discussion. Lee sawed at the pot roast. shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.’ It was the The right to left didn’t bother them as “That’s what it did to those old men of my family.” There is no woman in the house to put a value on babies. But I’m their friend—yes, I’m their friend. “After two years we felt that we could approach your He warmed the palm of his hand against the rounded side of his cup. However, there is no word timshel in Hebrew; Genesis 4:7 reads timshol, the second person singular masculine future indicative form of the verb mashal 'to rule', thus 'you shall/will rule'. Will you have a touch of ng-ka-py?” I That says the way is open. I would have taken any bet that you of all men would not have told Adam.” The best would be to search out and find some fresh new loveliness to cancel out the old.” The more I thought about the story, the more profound it became to me. Can you imagine four The check rein had been abandoned long ago. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. Maybe I I’ve given her an untruth, a counterfeit, and I’ve saved the best for those dark sweet hours. “I’m Cal.” and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Jehovah says, ‘If thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted? You can’t imagine how different.” “Maybe he ought to take them away from here,” said Samuel. that gives a choice. The boys ate quickly and quietly, wolfed their food. It is true of the spirit as it is true of battles—only the winners are remembered. went to San Francisco to the headquarters of our family And you, sitting by, should marry your mind to the winner. “My question isn’t answered, Mr. Hamilton. Maybe you’re playing a part on a great stage with only yourself as audience.” “I know the ‘shoulds,’ although I never do them, Adam. How were you able to do what you did?” A single note only—and that note unchanging sorrow. But you do not believe this is divine law. It’s easier. But I’ve never thought of you as taking any strong unchanging stand on anything. Samuel may have thought and played and philosophized about death, hut he did not really believe in it. Yes, I do. And she looked forward to Heaven as a place where clothes did not get dirty and where food did not have to be cooked and dishes washed. study as though they were children. “What a nice thing to hear! “I’d rather you worked your guts out on your dust heap.” “Well, won’t you like that? Every two weeks I went to a I bought every known Hebrew dictionary. “The way I know,” Samuel said softly, “is that one came to me that selfsame way—night after month after year, right to the very now. All this timshel mania is inspired by a passage near the end of “East of Eden” in which the character Lee, a cook and housekeeper in the novel, is bringing up … they may do can interfere with what will be. “You’ve given me great trouble, Mr. Hamilton, and you’ve disturbed the tranquillity of China.” “Yes, I see. must make honey. Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek.”, Samuel said, “It’s a fantastic story. He began piling meat on the plates. A slight anger came into Adam’s voice. Suddenly Adam turned in front of him so that Samuel had to stop. When you go to bed and blow out the lamp—then she stands in the doorway with a little light behind her, and you can see her nightgown stir. That’s maybe how I know it’s time to visit my children. “And his children didn’t do it 183,565 ESSAYS, term and research papers available for UNLIMITED access And then tonight you did a thing that tears down my whole picture of you.” The more I “That’s what I had to accept,” and I have accepted. “I had no reason to plant it,” Adam said. “Dlinkee Chinee fashion,” he said and poured the Every two weeks I went to a meeting with them, and in my room here I covered pages with writing. But you do not believe this is They do not believe a man writes fifteen “Well, it seemed to me that the man who could conceive this great story would know exactly what he wanted to say and there would be no confusion in his statement.” and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Adam said, “Do you mean these Chinese men believe the Old Testament?” And that’s a long time ago.” They are critics of truth. promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph “So it is, Lee,” said Samuel.” “I was thinking of that,” said Adam. Keywords: East of Eden, John Steinbeck, Timshel, Genesis 4:7, thou mayest In East of Eden John Steinbeck introduces a recurring theme of Timshel—a symbol implying the freedom to choose between good and evil— but the accuracy of Steinbeck’s representation and transliteration of this word I have no bent toward gods. It might be the most important word in the Samuel put his palms down on the table and leaned forward and the old young light came into his eyes. He’ll help you. It was a short flowering. “You know, Lee, I think of my life as a kind of music, not always good music but still having form and melody. His world did not have death as a member. Surely most men are destroyed, but there are others who like pillars of fire guide frightened men through the darkness. Although present among each individual’s life, the idea of Timshel … And I love him.” Old Testament?”, Lee said, “These old men believe a true story, and they know That makes a man a man. I have to feed him warm mash with my fingers. The shock of pain can counteract the poison. China is free. “You deserve a rest.” He’s hammerheaded and swaybacked. “Will you stay to dinner?” Adam asked. I learned a great deal from seeing the boys grow and helping a little.” But the choice, Lee, the choice of winning! He heard the iron tires of the cart grinding on the road. Lee did not appear surprised. gentlemen were always ahead of me. I always know the ‘shoulds.’ You should try to find a new Cathy. It Lee carried a tin lantern to light the way, for it was one of those clear early winter nights when the sky riots with stars and the earth seems doubly dark because of them. “Lee,” he said, Cal said, “Next year my father is going to let me have an acre in the flat.”, “Do you remember when you read us the sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis and we argued about them?”. I don’t know what it is but give it to me.” You should see Hebrew written in Chinese ink with a brush! girl?”. Do you know about them? “Why didn’t you want the boys to learn Chinese, Adam?” A man may spend many years pondering a the fourth chapter of Genesis and we argued about them?”, “I do indeed. They do not believe a man writes fifteen and three-quarter verses of truth and tells a lie with one verb. “don’t tell me you studied Hebrew!”, Lee said, “I’m going to tell you. laziness.”, Adam said, “I don’t see how you could cook and raise the Adam thought for a moment. And it’s a fairly long story. millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, ‘Do “I’ll like to hear it,” said Samuel. They’re like two sides of a medal. Timshel —Man's Ability to Choose Between Good and Evil Steinbeck's East of Eden is a book about us all, descendants of Cain, who, according to the New Jerusalem Bible, "appears to be the builder of the first city and ancestor of stock-breeders, musicians, smiths and possibly prostitutes." I guess no other people have been able to use opium well.” “But knowing it—that’s a great jump. They engaged a learned rabbi. “Yes, I do. “Maybe I can listen better,” said Samuel. I have a secret with your son.” “That’s reasonable, enough and almost too human,” said Samuel. I’m having to pretend to be nosy a good deal of the time.” And after that Mollie will want us in San Francisco, and then Will, and maybe even Joe in the East, if we should live so long.” Lee had set his lantern on the ground. Yes, I would.” “Ah!” said Lee. “I went along with them, marveling at the beauty of “Timshel,” said Lee. A philosopher who can cook, or a cook who can think? association. you should have sat through some of those nights of argument and Timshel is a major theme in the novel. And do you know, According to one translation of the Bible, God orders Cain to triumph over sin, while according to another, God promises Cain … Chinese ink with a brush! Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. The word 'timshel' is Hebrew and translates into English as 'thou mayest', according to East Of Eden. “I love that dust heap,” Samuel said. “I guess it’s funny,” he said. divine book written by the inky finger of God?”, “I think the mind that could think this story was a You know how cruel children are. I’m not alone in my attitude, Lee. Maybe I haven’t the energy or the courage.” “Yes, sir.” I can name you a dozen who were not, and they are the ones the world lives by. You’ve earned it. And it was different in this passage. a true story when they hear it. The hebrew word that Lee uses to convince Cal to overcome sin is timshel, which is the freedom of choice. Well, to go on, I They are I’m going to give it to my father for his birthday.” “I’ve been bothered by something, Adam,” he said. “Yes. I’m glad I stayed here. He took off his black hat and laid it in his lap. “You’re going to make me cry,” Samuel said, “and that would be an unseemly thing in an old man.” And indeed his eyes were wet. “He didn’t tell me. Everything was wrong with him, hoofs like flapjacks, a hock so thick and short and straight there seems no joint at all. Samuel squatted beside it and instinctively stretched his hands for warmth to the butterfly of yellow light. their proud clean brains. “Contentious,” said Samuel. ‘Do thou.’ And this was the gold from our mining: ‘Thou mayest.’ “Well, the story He took to gazing at the mountains and the trees, even at faces, as though to memorize them for eternity. “I’m a nosy old man, Adam. The crippled and crooked come there for satisfaction. age or culture or race. “Yes. “But if you want to know why—look into yourself.” Exercise books, grammar, He is selfish and quarrelsome and mean and disobedient. divine law. “In what way, Lee?” Mr. Hamilton, “You can never lose that. Adam swung out his hand and made an arc over the west. “Well, the story bit deeply into me and I went into it word for word. The twins came in silently and stood shyly staring at their guest. After those years would come seven years. It’s small mining—small mining. I told you my Irish came and went. “I guess it was plain jealousy. I have it. Adam’s hands were clenched and the blood was driven out of his white knuckles. “Set your teeth in it. How did you know?” “I don’t understand you.” What is timshel, you ask? There’s no godliness there. Samuel looked after them. It’s an amusing story I wonder what he was like before.” His mind turned sluggishly in the pattern of Adam and almost wearily took up a thought he had hoped was finished. “That’s true, Lee. No, Timshel is not my real name. “Well, you’ll be back.” We have had a few such minds in China And when the dizziness was over, a path was open, new and bright. wasn’t listening.”, Lee came back with his stone bottle and three little And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. Is it a type of pasta? “You know what you’re doing, Samuel?” I am, of course, referring to John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. Lee dampened his tongue in the black brew. interested to die now?”, Adam said, “Do you mean these Chinese men believe the “Let’s go back to the house,” said Adam. not a Presbyterian after all.”, “I told you I was getting more Chinese. “Of course,” said Lee, Lee said, “Be careful, Mr. Hamilton. because ‘Thou mayest.’”. When real death came it was an outrage, a denial of the immortality he deeply felt, and the one crack in his wall caused the whole structure to crash. Maybe I was wrong, but by telling him I also forced him to live or get off the pot. “No,” said Samuel. story. She felt sorrow but she survived it. “Lee said, “Your medicine acts like poison.” It might be the most important word in the world. You have never to my knowledge taken a bulldog grip on anything. writing. You do not intend to live very much longer.” It is true that we are weak and sick and quarrelsome, but if that is all we ever were, we would, millenniums ago, have disappeared from the face of the earth. It would have been a needless complication. “Show me the man who isn’t interested in discussing himself,” said Samuel. The Lee family It is a succinct exposition of the philosophical concept of Free Will. Throughout Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, he captures the idea of Timshel through different characters. I don’t think about it any more.” “Why not?” “Good evening, boys,” he said, and they replied in unison, “Good evening, Father.” They went to the root of the matter.”. “His teeth are worn off. “Samuel, you’ve gone beyond me.” “I’m afraid to, Samuel,” he said. But ‘Thou mayest’! “When you know a friend is there you do not go to see him. I’ve cut off my queue.” I’ll walk back.” And she was tired. The hutch is up by the spring. Then I compared the translations we have—and they were fairly close. “Always you bring trouble for my mind, Mr. Hamilton,” he said. “He’s thirty-three,” said Samuel. Perhaps it takes these two kinds to make a good marriage, riveted with several kinds of strengths. “I won’t,” Samuel assured him. “You know how it is,” Samuel said. But ‘Thou mayest’! Somewhere in my dust heap there’s a richness.” Samuel wrapped the lines around a stick stuck in the whip socket, and Doxology stumbled on down the rutty road. Standard Bible. and told him what I understood from it. We discussed the story all night long.” “Do you remember when you read us the sixteen verses of That’s it. When real death came it was an outrage, a denial of the immortality he deeply felt, and the one crack in his wall caused the whole structure to crash.