Darkness and Light and its relevance to the Human Condition.

In East of Eden, one can clearly see the powerful and conspicuous dynamic between Darkness and Light and its relevance to the Human Condition.
Using Eden as your primary focus, write a 4 to 6 page paper in MLA style (Times New Roman/12 font size), analyzing this notion:
In this life, we are on a perpetual search for the Truth. Is that the Light? Most people do not yearn to live in Darkness; it is being in the Light that gives us Joy, yet John Steinbeck, American writer, states: “We are capable of all things in all directions–of great virtues and great sins. And who in his mind has not probed the black water?” (Eden 132). Perhaps at some point we discover that both Darkness and Light are necessary to our growth and maturity as we strive for contentment, for with these opposites, we are constantly tried in Life’s Fires and made stronger and wiser.
Set forth your case in a clear thesis, and consider characters that support this previous idea.
PROMPT:
1) Using the text as direct support, choose at least three characters from Eden w ho search for the Truth and analyze their journey towards the Light. The end for those who pursue Darkness is often predictable; you may wish to offer a contrast with these characters.
2) Include in your analysis references to other characters in The Crucible and/or The Scarlet Letter. Cite the text as direct support. You may also mention any of the other readings assigned for our class.
3) Do not repeat your prompt in your conclusion. Remember in a paper, your conclusion should answer the question: “SO WHAT?” Therefore, consider these questions: How should we live after we have found the Light? If we have searched and found the LIGHT (Truth, Goodness, etc.), do we have a responsibility to bring others into the Light?
At the end of the unforgettable Chapter 24, Samuel Hamilton states: ” ‘Thou mayest rule over sin,’ Lee. That’s it. I do not believe all men are destroyed. I can name you a dozen who were not, and they are the ones the world lives by. It is true of the spirit as it is true of battles–only the winners are remembered. Surely most men are destroyed, but there are others who like pillars of fire guide frightened men through the darkness. ‘Thou mayest, Thou mayest!’ What glory! It is true that we are weak and sick and quarrelsome, but if that is all we ever were, we would, millenniums ago, have disappeared from the face of the earth. A few remnants of fossilized jawbone, some broken teeth in strata of limestone, would be the only mark man would have left of his existence in the world. But the choice, Lee, the choice of winning! …TIMSHEL” (308-309).
This is a critical analysis, which requires no research.