Cannery Row Theme Essay

Cannery Row is a novel more about the characters than the plot. In Cannery Row these characters have needs and desires that we uncover as we get to know them better. These characters desires are found when they are set alone in nature which is when they have time to be with themselves. John Steinbeck says that the nature of human desire may be shown as a need or want depending on the values and morals of the specific human. His commentary influences our understanding of the Californian Imagination by showing us the needs and wants of humans during a specific time. Dora’s main desire is happiness for others. In chapter 3, Steinbeck writes about the way Dora contributes to her community. Steinbeck writes, “...Dora saw the hungry children of Cannery Row and the jobless fathers and the worried women and Dora paid grocery bills right and left for two years and very nearly went broke in the process.” She is willing to go above and beyond her usual charities to help others even if it means that she can end up worse. In chapter 16, Steinbeck shows us in what ways she is willing to give up what little she had

Steinbeck writes, “Doc has the hands of a brain surgeon, and a cool warm mind…He can kill anything for need but he could not even hurt a feeling for pleasure.”. Doc does not have the heart to hurt anything or anyone out of pleasure. Doc has not found a way to achieve happiness so he does not get it because he does not want to get in the way of other people’s happiness. In chapter 28, Steinbeck writes about what gets in the way of Doc’s own happiness. Steinbeck wrote, “Frankie looked a long time at him. “I love you,” he said. Doc ran out and got in his car and went collecting in the caves below Pt. Lobos.” Doc has intimacy issues, he does not want people getting close to him because he does not like himself. This gets in the way of his happiness and other’s