Good People in Cannery Row Essay

John Steinbecks Cannery Row, on its surface, is a very simplistic book in which its plot does non take any significant impact on its universe, let alone its characters. However, if one might delve deeper into Steinbecks clever subtext and rich overtones, a foundation of bliss and beauty can be found. Cannery Row, is a book where its characters argon self-descri have intercourse as Whores, Pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches and yet c in alled Saints and angels and martyrs and holy men on the very same summon (405).The point of these contradictions is to comment on societys view of Morality. This is specifically noted when one of the main Characters, Doc, says It has always seemed strange to meThe things we admire in men, humanity and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, argon the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. When referring a group of Former homeless men called mackintosh and the boys (505). mack and the boys are a group of bums that live in the row, and often do nothing but drink alcohol. These men never do anything necessarily heroic, or daring, or regular Courageous, but these men are the most moral individuals in the entirety of Cannery Row.Through the Scenes following Mack and the Boys, John Steinbeck develops Idea that despite their lack of ambition, they are viewed as morally upstanding individuals, who halt a positive impact on society. With their happy go lucky nature, and simple needs, these men can compass the impossible. One might think that they are very unintelligent individuals due to their standard of living, but that couldnt be farther than the truth. Time and time once again they prove themselves to be people that are not only capable, but show extraordinary prowess in certain fields. One of these men, for instance was gay. When referring to his mechanical ability, Steinbeck na rrates Indeed there are men near Whom a car runs better. And such a one was gay.His fingers on a timer or a carburetor adjustment screw were gentle and wise and sure. The way he listens to the ills of automatons, it is of no impossibility he could ingest become a wealthy mechanic, muddle cars in a garage of his owning. Gay Instead enjoys his time at the powerful house, drinking and talking the day outside. All Gay really wants, is to have a good time, and for the others around him to do the same. This is a key component of why gay is a moral citizen of society. Gay is often able to do wrong, but never is willing. Gay lives with an abusive Wife, which constantly beats him. He never wants to, but occasionally he has to return the favor.He used to move thrown into jail because of this, but that he liked the conditions in jail, so his wife beats him while he sleeps instead/ Gay, specifically, is an interesting case, because he has a life in which is deeper than one might believe. h e is the only one to have a life of suburbia waiting for him. Gay lived a terra firma in which he had a house and a loving wife. Through another(prenominal) lens, Gay was trapped in a cage with a adult female that beats him so much that being put in jail is sweet relief. Despite this, Gay eventually always choses to go back to his wife.He believes that he is wrong in the situation and returns to his wife trying to be a better man. That truly is the reason why he is an upstanding person. Hes a very humble and simple creature, who just wishes to enjoy life. Another Example of such ambition would the leader of the group, Mack. Mack is by far, is the flop houses driving force. When leading the group, he is a moral center, and the speaker of wisdom when alone, he is a very tragic man. Throughout the book, Mack and the boys only ambition was to throw a party for Doc, a local good Samaritan. When this ambition ends in failure, he proclaimsIt dont do good to say Im sorry. Ive been sorry a ll my lifeI had a wifesame thing. Everthing I make turn sour. She couldnt stand it no more. If I done a good thing it got poisoned up some wayI dont do nothin but clown no more. Try to make the boys laugh. (496) Mack seemingly is the only one who doesnt lack ambition by choice. Whilst in with the other, Mack often is the one to set goals, albeit small ones. This is where the true tragedy of his character comes in. No matter what he does, or hard he works, all of his plans inevitably turn to failure. Mack is a man of good intentions, and made of good morals, but he is seemingly cursed with bad luck, and the world reacts as such. One of Macks greatest qualities is his way with words.A lesser person might use his power of speech craft to control the populace, and embodiment the world in his image, but Mack just wants to have fun. Whenever he uses this sort of power, he is always talking about doing something for someone else. The adventures of Mack and the boys is alter with irony G ay having a wife that beats him, Hazel likes conversation, but hates talking, or having a party for someone who doesnt attend. Perhaps the most teetotal of all is that despite their lack of ambition and lazy attitude, their actions Influence everyone around them. All throughout cannery row, people would look on to these men, and get inspired in some way.One of the greatest examples of such inspiration is the aforementioned Doc. Even though Mack and the Boys destroyed his home by throwing a party for him, without him, he still holds them in high regard. The sale of souls to gain the whole world is completely voluntary and almost unanimousbut not quiteYou pick out how they tried to give me a party and it went wrong. But they wanted to give me a party. That was their impulse. (505). What Doc is saying here, is that he respects the lifestyle that Mack and the Boys have chosen, and thinks of them as moral even though things dont go their way. This isImplied in a number of ways. Initial ly, he denotes the idea of throwing the party was on a whim of theirs. This is a Reference to the continuing notion of their lack of aspiration. Mack and the Boys dont do things for certain reasons, they just decide to act consequently they get the inspiration.Furthermore, he begins with a metaphor comparing the Consumerist system, a place where you have to work for a place you often hate, to selling your soul, giving away your humanly essence and personality. This metaphor works well contrasting with the boys, to those who seemingly suffer from working into monotony. Doc is implicating that their way of spontaneity is a way wherein they have the capability to do good. Steinbeck often uses these sections with Doc to illustrate the importance of the boys actions. Whenever Doc speaks of them, he outlines how business men are sick men, and how the boys are healthy and strangely clean (504).Mack and the boys dont have that thirst that humans often have. That hunger for Silver stitching and velvet bed sheets. Steinbeck uses a group of happy homeless men as a symbol for the importance of caring for one another, while living in the moment. Mack and the boys outline how to do well in life, without selling ones soul for wealth and power. Morality is often a tricky subject to undertake and often when it is tackled, its not done wellBut Steinbeck has it pegged. One might think that things such as be considerate of one another and be humble would be simple Ideologies for a book to go behind, Steinbeck does it justice. Cannery Row Shows just how people react to good deeds, as misguided as they are. John Steinbecks Cannery Row, on its surface, is a very simplistic book, but it is so much more.