Steinbeck's story is about old testiment morality, the idea that people can be absolutely good (Abel, or "Cal" in the story) or absolutely bad (Cain, James Dean). The point is that this is a fallacy, both characters are mixtures. Trouble begins when this is not understood.

I am interested in some geographic anomalies. The Pajaro Valley as Eden. Where is Cain sent wehn he kills his brother? East of Eden, to the land of Nod.