Cain by José Saramago was a random find at the local library about a month ago. It took me a while to get around to it, but I'm glad I finally did.
When I saw it popping out of the bookshelves, the title and the cover intrigued me. It was obvious that this book would be a commentary or retelling of the Cain and Abel story from the Bible.
I snatched it before my friend could (who was eyeing it over my shoulder) and checked it out with a smirk. It was a small book, so it wouldn't be a total waste of my time if it turned out to be horrible. It turned out to be a great decision.
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
If, like me, you're a weirdo, you question your faith more than your clothes. If so, this book is for you. Cain confronts biblical hypocrisy and melds philosophy with absurdism. How avante-garde, yes?
Cain is a stand-alone novella (159 pages) and retells the story of Cain and Abel. In the course of the story, God curses Cain to never be at peace upon the Earth after murdering his brother, Abel. Cain experiences biblical events and meets biblical figures, such as Abraham and Isaac. Despite his circumstances, he acts as if he has done no wrong. On the contrary, he acts as though he has been the most wronged human being to walk upon the Earth.
Cain is a walking contradiction.
Though a glutton, he is the only one not 'blinded by rose-tinted glasses.' The people around him are blind to the biblical world's atrocities. They act as if it is commonplace. Cain does not. And instead of lying down and accepting fate, he pushes back at every instance to get back at God.
Themes
Religion would be an obvious theme, but not in the traditional sense. Cain uses religion to show the herd mentality of humans. The book exposes the absurdity of idolatry when it ignores the violence of reality.
There are clear themes of sexism and misogyny, as well. However, I am hard-pressed to argue that those are the driving factors of this novella. Rather, I would say that sexism and misogyny parallel larger themes: ignorance and harmful idolatry.
Craft and Style
José Saramago’s craft and style are peculiar but satisfying. Saramago crafted Cain with 'stream-of-consciousness' writing. It was challenging, at times, to track who was speaking. But in other aspects, it worked well. Saramago also chose not to capitalize proper nouns, but that choice did not detract from the story. It was a unique style choice, but I enjoyed those little details, nonetheless. One explanation could be that the strategy aimed to organize and mark the dialogue. Regardless, this style choice was fitting.
Further, the stream-of-consciousness style clarifies complex themes. I devoured the narrative smoothly, with the seamless transitions and natural dialogue. A particular pet peeve of mine when I'm reading heavier texts is when authors sacrifice flow for pomp. This novella’s style is an acquired taste, but it does suit the context of the story perfectly.
Analysis (Includes Spoilers)
Cain is not a great guy (by any stretch of the imagination), but you will sympathize with his view of the world. (Though his selfishness can grow cumbersome.) Cain observes God's brutal force, wondering what drives His followers' unthinking obedience. Cain tries, and sometimes succeeds, at intervening. For example, instead of an angel descending from heaven to prevent Abraham from killing his son, Isaac, Cain is the one to intervene:
“Who are you, My name is cain, I’m the angel who saved isaac’s life. This isn’t true, cain is no angel, that title belongs to the being who has just landed with a great flapping of wings and who is now declaiming like an actor who has finally heard his cue . . . You're late, said cain, the only reason isaac isn’t dead is because I stepped in to prevent it," (page 70).
I found this plot point interesting. I was impressed at how Saramago bent biblical reality while offering an alternative timeline. Cain’s role is to circumnavigate God’s bidding and, further, undermines His authority. Following the attempted murder, Cain, the angel, and Abraham are at odds with each other:
“That’s where you’re wrong, never is not the opposite of late, the opposite of late is too tale, retorted cain . . . It was the lord’s idea, he meant it as a test, A test of what, Of my faith and my obedience, What kind of lord would order a father to kill his own son,” (pages 70-71).
This tit-for-tat is a common occurrence for the novella and makes it so endearing (despite the heavier topics it tackles). It also supports the absurdity that the novella navigates.
Conclusion
Cain by José Saramago was a wild card from the library. But, it was a moving, profound story about morality, idolatry, and biblical hypocrisy. I will add this novella to my regular list of recommendations (but with the caveat that it includes thick themes of biblical philosophy.)
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