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Mary Steinbeck
Abra is the love interest of Aron Trask from a very young age. They court for a long time, but Abra begins to recognize that Aron loves an idealized version of her, and doesn’t love her for who she really is. She develops a close relationship with Lee, whom she adopts as a father figure, for she has always felt rejected by her own father. Eventually she falls for Cal, because he is both bad and good, and can understand that she is both bad and good too.
Abra Bacon Quotes in East of Eden
The East of Eden quotes below are all either spoken by Abra Bacon or refer to Abra Bacon. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 53 Quotes
“He’s crammed full to the top with every good thing and every bad thing.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Abra Bacon Character Timeline in East of Eden
The timeline below shows where the character Abra Bacon appears in East of Eden. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 27
...too shy to introduce himself. Cal snickers at Aron’s awkwardness. The young girl’s name is Abra. The two boys and girl go out to play. As they leave they hear the...
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The three children test their power over one another once they get outside. Abra clearly wants control, and gains it quickly, bossing the twins around. Cal can tell immediately...
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Aron offers to give Abra the rabbit they shot as a gift—when he goes inside to wrap it up, Cal...
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Chapter 28
At dinner the boys tell their father about Abra, and ask where their mother’s grave is. Adam tells them it is in the east,...
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Chapter 30
...Cal why Cal insists on doing sneaky, tricky things. He knows Cal said something to Abra to make her throw the rabbit away—he doesn’t care what Cal said, he only wants...
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Chapter 36
...other hand is loved by everyone. And Aron sets to work immediately courting his beloved Abra Bacon. She avoids him for a while, but then finally allows him to walk with...
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Abra tells Aron that she has heard rumors that his mother is still alive, and that...
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...a different kind of way. He cannot stomach the thought of that, and concludes that Abra simply heard some incorrect information. He pushes the thoughts from his mind. That night, as...
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Chapter 37
...wealthy. Aron feels as though he cannot hold his head up in school, and tells Abra that he hates his father. Abra chides him for saying such things, and Aron says...
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Chapter 39
...a better father. Cal hesitatingly opens up to Adam. He talks about Aron’s relationship with Abra; he tells his father that he loves his brother; but that he feels Aron needs...
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Chapter 41
...reveal his mother’s identity to Aron simply to shake him out of his introverted meditations. Abra thinks Aron enjoys feeling sad and ashamed—Cal doesn’t understand this.
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Chapter 44
Aron goes off to Stanford for college, and is disappointed by the experience. He writes Abra elaborate and adoring love letters—writing her is the only thing in his life that has...
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Abra, in a moment of courage, asks Lee if Mrs. Trask is still alive. Lee says...
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The next day, Abra asks Cal to walk with her after school, and confides in him that Aron’s letter...
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Chapter 47
...his schooling and has become immensely homesick. He dreams of a world where he and Abra can run off together, and live far away from ugliness.
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Chapter 49
At Thanksgiving time, Adam, Lee, Cal, and Abra go to the train station to greet Aron. Adam is anxious to see his son...
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Chapter 52
...months if they ought to call a doctor. Lee changes the subject and asks about Abra. Lee misses her, and tells Cal to send her to come see him again.
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Cal catches up with Abra the next day. They have not talked in a while, and Abra tells Cal she...
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Chapter 53
After school the next day, Abra asks Cal to carry her books home. She looks into his eyes with a strange...
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...that Adam’s time is drawing short, and it makes Lee feel, paradoxically, more alive. When Abra comes to the Trask house, he is thrilled to see her, and in an exuberant...
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Cal walks Abra home and they agree to see the azaleas rain or shine as soon as spring...
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Chapter 54
...to improve slowly. Finally at the end of May, the azaleas bloom, and Cal and Abra jubilantly skip school to go have their picnic. During their picnic, Abra confides in Cal...
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Chapter 55
When Cal and Abra return home, Lee is there to give them some terrible news. Aron is dead, and...
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Abra, Lee and Cal sit in the kitchen. Abra begs Lee to help Cal understand. Lee...
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