East of Eden: Chapter 49 Summary & Analysis

At Thanksgiving time, Adam, Lee, Cal, and Abra go to the train station to greet Aron. Adam is anxious to see his son and hopes that everything is set up perfectly for him at home. Aron gives Abra an enormous hug when he sees her, and then shakes the rest of his family’s hands vigorously. That night Aron finds Cal wrapping a gift in tissue paper. Cal keeps the contents of the gift a secret. Aron tells Cal he is thinking of dropping out of college. Cal is appalled—he tells Aron not to be rash, and to at least sleep on it.

Cal plans out every detail regarding the present, which is 15 thousand dollars in gold certificates, from his business venture with Will Hamilton. But on the day of Thanksgiving, Aron asks for Lee to delay the meal which messes up Cal’s carefully calibrated timeline. Cal succumbs to angry thoughts—he hates his father for loving Aron better, and knows Aron is only the favorite because he looks like Catherine, whom Adam will never get over. He bitterly chides himself for trying to buy his father’s love. But he controls himself, warns himself against enjoying anger and sadness, and decides to give the day to Aron. After making this peace, Cal sets about procuring champagne and wine for the dinner celebration.

Finally, it is time for Thanksgiving dinner, and Cal proudly gives the box to his father, who opens it and does not react as planned. He is silent. Cal quickly explains how he made the money, and Adam grows disgusted. He states that he does not want this money stolen from poor farmers, this profit from a horrible and deadly war. He tells Cal he doesn’t want the money—and returns the certificates. He tells Cal not to be angry.

When Lee sees Cal later he begs him to stop it—Cal looks innocently confused, as if he doesn’t understand Lee, and Lee tells him to remember he has a choice. His father couldn’t help but reject the money, but Cal has a choice in how he reacts. Cal tells Lee he shouldn’t get so worked up.

Cal goes out for a walk that night. After a while Aron catches up with him. He tells Cal he is sorry his gift was not well received. Cal tells Aron he has a surprise for him. Aron cheerfully asks what kind of surprise—and Cal leads his unknowing, innocent brother towards the edge of town, where the whorehouses are.

The local army recruiting office has a visitor the next morning: a young and beautiful boy, who is clearly not 18 yet. The boy lies about his age, however, and the recruiter cannot turn him away, for able bodied men are so sorely needed in the war.