I have to write an argumentative thesis on a story of my choice-I chose "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. I am having trouble finding an argument though! Would you consider the narrator third or first person? If I was to say that the narrator was omniscient as if spectator yet a participant, how would that impact the telling of the story? (negatively or positively?) I love English lit. but this one has me stuck.

It would be helpful if you would post the instructions here that you were given for writing your thesis, please. It sounds like you don't have much freedom as to how you are to write your thesis because of the way that you have worded your question. Thanks!

As for the narrator being first, or third person, it would depend on the point of view that the narrator takes in the story.

On the following link, there are some descriptions of the different points of view that a narrator could take concerning a story.

Point of view (literature - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I actually have too much freedom! I do not have my assignment sheet here, I turned it in to my professor with my note book. BASICALLY, it has to be an argumetative research paper on a book, poem, short story or author (ex: not Steinbeck bio, maybe his style of writing, use of symbolism, characters, theme) I can compare more than one story. I told my teacher I was attracted to the religious symbolism in the story East of Eden and the fact that it started as a journey through his family history
She wrote me "You could do a paper about the narrator of the story, the identitiy and impact the narrator has in telling the story. You could include the part abot all his stories have a distinct style. You could also weave in the Biblical perspective of the narrator: Omniscient as if spectator yet a participant."
What she is saying to me is obvious, so how can I argue anything? It all seems pretty clear and I am having trouble coming up with a thesis to start my paper.