Interpretation of the biblical myth of fratricide in the context of John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden

This article attempts to interpret intertextual elements from the Old Testament myth of fratricide in John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden . The biblical text is viewed as one of the most universal precedent phenomena and a variant of the pretext within the framework of intertextuality theory. The study concludes that in Steinbeck's novel the appeal to the biblical myth is a plot-forming element; the myth of fratricide plays a key role in the text and organizes the semantic layer of the novel. By referencing the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel, Steinbeck explores such axiological categories as abhorrence, free will, sin, and redemption. Furthermore, he raises the question of whether an individual is able to resist what is destined for them.