Netflix’s: “East of Eden” Cathy Ames Distortion

What happens when a morally relativistic society meets a monster? A recent Netflix reimagining of John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden gives us an answer.

Rather than keep antagonist Cathy Ames as an impenitent “psychic monster” who emotionally and sexually abuses people as a sick form of contrition for the world’s hypocrisy, the show softens Cathy by adding a backstory of childhood sexual trauma not present in the book. The sentimentalization of Cathy follows the predictable Hollywood tendency to turn villains into antiheroes to root for or pity, transforming Steinbeck’s monster into a martyr. But series creator Zoe Kazan’s decision doesn’t eliminate Cathy’s monstrosity — rather, it encourages her audience to excuse evil.

About the Author

Lauren Veldhuizen

Lauren Veldhuizen is an associate producer for National Review. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and a classically trained soprano.

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What happens when a morally relativistic society meets a monster? A recent Netflix reimagining of John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden gives us an answer.

Rather than keep antagonist Cathy Ames as an impenitent “psychic monster” who emotionally and sexually abuses people as a sick form of contrition for the world’s hypocrisy, the show softens Cathy by adding a backstory of childhood sexual trauma not present in the book. The sentimentalization of Cathy follows the predictable Hollywood tendency to turn villains into antiheroes to root for or pity, transforming Steinbeck’s monster into a martyr. But series creator Zoe Kazan’s decision doesn’t eliminate Cathy’s monstrosity — rather, it encourages her audience to excuse evil.