Rejection

Cain and Abel story in the Bible highlights the effect of rejection on a man. Cain offers harvest from his farm to God. Able offers the sheep he reared. God accepts Abel's gift and rejects Cain's gift. Cain is enraged. Why did God refuse to accept his offering? In rage, Cain kills Abel.

John Steinbeck discusses the concept of Rejection in his book 'East of Eden' based on the Bible story of Cain and Able.

The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime a guilt — and there is the story of mankind.

I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people. I am sure in myself there would not be many jails. It is all there — the start, the beginning.

One child, refused the love he craves, kicks the cat and hides his secret guilt; and another steals so that money will make him loved; and the third conquers the world — and always the guilt and revenge and more guilt. The human is the only guilty animal.

Now wait! Now i think this old and terrible story is important because it is the chart of the human soul — the secret, rejected, guilty soul.