Charles feels as though Cyrus rejects his love but accepts Adam’s; similarly, Cal feels like Adam rejects his love but accepts Aron’s. Cyrus flat out says to Adam, “I love you better” (Steinbeck 28). Although Cyrus loves Adam better than Charles, Adam only admires Cyrus and does not truly love him. Ironically, Charles loves Cyrus, but Cyrus does not have the same feelings toward Charles. Cal “wished” and hopes so badly that he could be like Aron that he now thrives off of the feeling of triumph over his brother (Steinbeck 349). Cal does not take his feelings of rejection and jealousy out on his competition—his brother Aron. Instead, he eliminates these feelings by going directly to the source—his father Adam. However, this tactic does not get him very far, as it leaves him in the same rejected state as before. Cal’s “jealous[y]” teaches him that in order to eliminate rejection, he has to take revenge on Aron (Steinbeck 538). His jealousy takes them to their mother’s prostitution house where Cal knows Aron will finally break and become the least favorite child, finally making Cal
Charles feels as though Cyrus rejects his love but accepts Adam’s; similarly, Cal feels like Adam rejects his love but accepts Aron’s. Cyrus flat out says to Adam, “I love you better” (Steinbeck 28). Although Cyrus loves Adam better than Charles, Adam only admires Cyrus and does not truly love him. Ironically, Charles loves Cyrus, but Cyrus does not have the same feelings toward Charles. Cal “wished” and hopes so badly that he could be like Aron that he now thrives off of the feeling of triumph over his brother (Steinbeck 349). Cal does not take his feelings of rejection and jealousy out on his competition—his brother Aron. Instead, he eliminates these feelings by going directly to the source—his father Adam. However, this tactic does not get him very far, as it leaves him in the same rejected state as before. Cal’s “jealous[y]” teaches him that in order to eliminate rejection, he has to take revenge on Aron (Steinbeck 538). His jealousy takes them to their mother’s prostitution house where Cal knows Aron will finally break and become the least favorite child, finally making Cal