Finally! So tired of all the reviews saying that an underage Cathy drove her "suitor" (her teacher) to suicide.

"Adam’s wife Cathy, the most remarkable character in the novel, brought stunningly to life by Florence Pugh, begins as a teenage victim of a teacher’s 'affection,' and learns early that if she is to survive as an independent woman, she must manipulate the situations men consign her to. She escapes Adam’s repressive family trap and slowly becomes a madam in her desire to control her own life. Her new role involves an understanding of and catering to male depravity, practiced especially by the towns and California’s state leaders. 

However, the profit motive lays hold of her as well in her management of the house of prostitution. 'Add another show,' she barks at one of the women, 'build demand then raise prices.' She betrays a woman who shows mercy to her, and in one of the most stunning scenes of the series, which recalls Macbeth’s torment by the spirit of the murdered Banquo, she conjures that woman’s ghost beckoning her. Cathy, now called Kate, though, is not Lady Macbeth; she is Macbeth."

Dennis Broe

"'East of Eden’ review: A sprawling and relevant critique..."

https://peoplesworld.org/article/east-of-eden-review-a-sprawling-and-relevant-critique-of-american-values/