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Syd
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:47 pm Reply with quote
Site Admin Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 12887 Location: Norman, Oklahoma
I didn't find Cal to be a cardboard character at all; indeed, he was the only person in the Trask family who struck me as being a complete person. Aron and Adam seemed to be missing half their personalities.

I found it strange that Steinbeck keeps saying how everybody instantly likes Aron, who I would find to be an insufferable prig.

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pedersencr
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:50 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 921 Location: New Orleans
Mitty,
I've been enjoying a vacation away from the forum.
Charles
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mitty
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:56 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: Way Down Yonder.......
You do have a point about Cal's character, it was more developed than, as you mention Aron and Adam. But I have to say, I did not once get any real vibes from most of the characters. Only Samuel and Lee.

I forgot for a moment about Samuel. I liked him. But as he was (probably) Steinbeck's grandfather, he was presented in a much kinder and complete light than many of the other characters. Another thing, Liza was his grandmother.....duh.....I know, but Steinbeck certainly presented her in a much more non personal way than his grandfather. And Liza outlived Samuel, so Steinbeck would have actually known her better. I don't think Liza really knew how to relate to people too well. Sam did all the schmoozing.
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mitty
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:59 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: Way Down Yonder.......
pedersencr wrote:
Mitty,
I've been enjoying a vacation away from the forum.
Charles


In Neverland no doubt? Very Happy Welcome Back Charles. Shocked
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pedersencr
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:22 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 921 Location: New Orleans
Thanks for the humor, Mitty! It's as good as being on vacation.
Charles
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Marj
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:20 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Charles, you're back!! How wonderful. I hope you know how much you were missed?
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pedersencr
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:14 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 921 Location: New Orleans
Marj,
Thanks for the great reception. But it looks to me like things have been going great here, and you can't improve on that. Smile
So, props to you all,
Charles
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mitty
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:32 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: Way Down Yonder.......
Well Charles Marj is right, you have been missed.
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Marj
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:48 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Syd wrote:
Quote:
I didn't find Cal to be a cardboard character at all; indeed, he was the only person in the Trask family who struck me as being a complete person. Aron and Adam seemed to be missing half their personalities.


Thanks Syd. I must admit to wondering why there was so little discussion of Cal? He is after all one of the prime movers of this book and little wonder why his was the role so many actors sought to play in the first film and the new one in 2005.
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mitty
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:24 am Reply with quote
Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: Way Down Yonder.......
Manipulative and selfish. Cal just had to tell his father what he'd done. No thought for his father's condition. Dying. No sirree, Cal-boy had to get his guilt off of his chest. Bah Humbug!
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marantzo
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:59 pm Reply with quote
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Good call, mitty. Exactly. The Trasks are such a bunch of self-absorbed whiners that it's virtually impossible to feel any sympathy for them. The only one who isn't a whiner (except for her lamenting that she's surrounded by lesser humans) is Cathy and she's a cold blooded murderer.

Marj, your mentioning of Cal being a plum role for an actor reminded me of something many years ago. Photoplay (I think) had an article on the two young actors in East of Eden. They had full page pictures of both James Dean and Richard Davalos. Davalos was asked if he were disappointed that he got the role of Aron instead of Cal. He gave the expected answer that he was thrilled to play Aron and that it was a great experience and would be great for his career. Turns out that wasn't very accurate. I was reading this piece before EoE had even hit the theatres. While reading the article a news item on the radio said that James Dean had been killed in a car accident. I guess it's not hard to figure out why I remember the article so vividly.
Marj
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:32 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Gary, I'll say! And reading your post gave me chills.
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marantzo
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 3:02 pm Reply with quote
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Marj, I'm free for New Years. Hop a plane. Though you might need a helicopter to get to my place. I'm snowed in.
mitty
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 3:45 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 1359 Location: Way Down Yonder.......
There is an actor last name Davolos, that always seems to play a gangster. But he has dark hair. He played in one of the James Bond movies I think it was one that Timothy Dalton was in...? I can't see him playing blond Aron. Different one??[/i]
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Marj
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:32 pm Reply with quote
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan
Sure Gary, I always hop a plane whenever a man tells me to. Cool

[I've been watching far too much Bogey and Bacall] Truthfully if I could, it could be fun.
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