“I believe there are monsters born into the world. . . deformed and horrible. . . accidents and no fault. . . punishments for hidden sins. . . [their] face and body could be perfect. . . ” but they are the product of “a distorted gene or a malformed egg.” . . "(71). Literature, throughout history, has conveyed a plethora of themes, ranging from the struggle to understand divine intervention, to adversity, to the dramatization of life and death. One of the most prestigious and conventional themes is the conflict between good and evil. Demonstrated through many works of literary value, this divergence intensely burns the pages of history dating back to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Although this idea is deeply rooted in the past, its relevance is not exhausted , continuing to represent one of the most controversial topics known to man. Author John Steinbeck was fascinated by this controversy and ultimately produced his most ambitious work, East of Eden, to create a symbolic story that had meaning for all. John Steinbeck's East of Eden fundamentally captures the essence of the battle between good and evil through the dramatic use of symbolism, which insinuates the biblical story of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry between their sons, Cain. and Abel. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator depicts the glorious Salinas Valley, which serves as a symbol of the struggle between good and evil that Adam and Eve face after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The book's focal point, the Salinas Valley, parallels, as the title suggests, the land “east of Eden” in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In this infamous anecdote the world's first evil or sin is created,......middle of paper......to fully embrace. The Valley of Eden exemplifies the idea of ​​good versus evil through the dramatic use of symbolism that alludes to biblical tales of the past. Using the Salinas Valley, a scar on Charles' forehead, and Lee's timshel as symbols, the story of Cain and Abel is repeatedly resurrected to convey the message that good and evil do not necessarily constitute a controversy of extremes, but also include a gray area that John Steinbeck ultimately portrays. The Valley of Eden provides a different perspective on an ancient controversy that lights up the pages of history books. Steinbeck ultimately offers the idea that although "there are monsters born into the world," timshel "may be the most important word in the world," offering the idea that human beings have the power of free will and can choose as a result one's destiny between good and evil (71, 301).