| Cathy Ames | |
|---|---|
| East of Eden character | |
 Jo Van Fleet as Cathy Ames in the 1955 film adaptation of East of Eden | |
| Created by | John Steinbeck |
| Portrayed by | Jo Van Fleet Jane Seymour |
| In-universe information | |
| Nicknames | Kate Trask, Kate Albey |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Prostitute, madam, housewife |
| Family | William Ames (father) Mrs. C. Ames (mother) Charles Trask (brother-in-law) |
| Spouse | Adam Trask |
| Children | Caleb and Aron Trask |
| Nationality | American |
Catherine "Cathy" Ames, later known as Kate Trask or Kate Albey, is a fictional character and the main antagonist in John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden. She is married to the main protagonist Adam Trask, and the mother of his twin sons, Caleb and Aron. Beneath her charming, attractive facade, she is an evil woman who manipulates and destroys people for her own amusement and profit. Steinbeck characterizes her as a "psychic monster" with a "malformed soul".[1]
- ^ Steinbeck, John (1952). East of Eden. New York City: Penguin Books. p. 71. ISBN 978-0140186390.