Jacob And Esau-Sibling Rivalry

Such a contrast can also be seen in the second pair of brothers in the novel, Adam’s twin sons Caleb and Aron, (though Caleb and Aron's relationship draws more parallels to the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau). In the story of Jacob and Esau, the theme of sibling rivalry is explored not through the actions of one sibling, but through the thoughts of one. Jacob, like Caleb, is depicted as the clever sibling who mimics his brother’s compassion in order to manipulate him into believing the perverted idea that siblings mimic each other in order to win affection: “Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Then Esau despised his birthright,” (Genesis 25: 34). This idea, that a desire for affection can lead to manipulation and malice, is further enforced by this passage: “If he had been an only child or if Aron had been a different kind of boy, Cal might have achieved his relationship normally and easily...Cal very naturally competed for attention and affection in the only way he knew-by trying to imitate Aron,” (Steinbeck 783). In demonstrating how volatile and fragile close relationships are, Steinbeck also implies that violence and jealousy are consequences of love- an idea further developed by author Ricardo J. Quinones, “...the blood that is spilled by human nature and the blood that is offered, as it were, are voluntary imitation,” (Quinones 4). …show more content…
Thus, Steinbeck uses characterization in order to communicate the complexity of the relationship between the two pairs of Trask brothers, and draws parallels to Cain, Abel, Jacob, and Esau to explore how powerful emotions like love and jealousy are

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