Re: Digest for kcsummerbookclub@googlegroups.com - 1 Message in 1 Topic

[Alexander Butler]

Interesting thoughts on the formation of identity and expectations. There is not enough time to discuss each character. I found Lee to be particulary interesting because he was willing to conform his outward identity to the people around him. At one time he pointed out if he did not speak pidgin then Americans would not listen to him. Yet, he also found in his return to China his identity had become different from his family's that remained in China. In some ways he formed his own identity and in others his identity was shaped by the community in which he lived. His pidgin identity he used to his advantage. At one point Kathy is wary of him. She seems to know Lee has a different identity than the one in which he allowed most people to see. Is our identity found in the life of another and if so, how are Lee's relationships different between the people who know and do not know his true identity?

To the question of family, Lee is the family's conscience. What do you think?

On Sat, Jun 4, 2011 at 12:50 PM, <kcsummerbook...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/kcsummerbookclub/topics

• EoE Halfway Mark Party! [1 Update]

 Topic: EoE Halfway Mark Party!

Jordan Simpson <jsim...@gmail.com> Jun 04 10:21AM -0700 ^

 
Hopefully we're all getting at least close to halfway through East of
Eden. To celebrate and discuss the book so far I'd like to invite you
over next Saturday (June 11) at 7pm. We'll have coffee and snacks
while we talk about how crazy Cathy is. The address is 1220 E 59th St,
KCMO. Let me know if you're able to make it.
 
 
Some things to think about from Part II:
 
- What are the roles of Sam Hamilton and Lee in the story? How are
they members of the Trask family?
 
- Conforming to assumptions plays a strong role in this section. Lee
fits into the Chinese stereotype and Adam forces Cathy into what he
expects her to be. How does this conformity play out? What is
Steinbeck saying about identity? Is it ever good to conform to
expectations?