Calvino defines Exactitude to mean three things:
1. A well-defined and well-calculated plan for the work in question
2. An evocation of clear, incisive, memorable visual images
3. A language that is as precise as possible both in choice of words and in expression of the subtleties of thought and imagination.
The language that Steinbeck uses to create the imagery of East of Eden is remarkable. The descriptive language of the Salinas Valley does just provide the backdrop of the story but it is an integral part of the plot and a key vehicle used to transition the story. The changes in the country overtime directly reflect the changes of the people who live there. The language used is precise and deliberate; each describing detail gives evidence of events to come in the plot.
