East of Eden

“East of Eden” by John Steinbeck is a harrowing, multi-generational epic chronicling a family’s legacy, triumphs, and hardships. A tale of good and evil, showing how our choices shape us. I wanted the book cover to match the allegorical storytelling and early 20th century setting of the text by taking inspiration from Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and the many biblical motifs found throughout. The concept of good and evil is very black and white in the novel, which influenced the color palette. Steinbeck philosophizes about free will in his book, so I made the apple the only POP of color symbolizing the characters’ ability to choose right or wrong. The gloves are a prominent symbol of a character whose hands deteriorate in appearance due to her evil choices, and often tempts other characters into making the same choices, hence her interchangeability with the snake from the Garden of Eden.