Get the entire East of Eden LitChart as a printable PDF.

Water Symbol Timeline in East of Eden
The timeline below shows where the symbol Water appears in East of Eden. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...of the Salinas valley in Northern California. The land is beautiful and expansive, but dry. Water comes in 30-year cycles, and the dry seasons inspire despair and the wet seasons hope...
(full context)
Chapter 3
...mother, a godly woman who seemed to crave unhappiness, vengefully drowned herself in the shallow water of a pond after contracting gonorrhea from his father when he returned home from the...
(full context)
Chapter 5
...raised a good family—not rich, but not as poor as some. If there had been water they would have been relatively wealthy. But, though there was none, the family is well...
(full context)
Chapter 13
...and tells Adam the property is a fine one, and likely sitting on top of water. Just before Adam leaves, he remarks that Sam has made the Salinas valley sound like...
(full context)
Chapter 15
Sam and Adam wander around the property looking for water. Sam carries a stick with him that, like a magic wand, seems drawn to the...
(full context)
Chapter 45
...put the pieces together. When he discovers that Ethyl has been found drowned in the ocean a few towns over, he decides not to tell Kate—he thinks he can use Ethyl...
(full context)