From earliest childhood, most parents explain concepts such as the impact of decisions, and that money can’t buy happiness; concepts which can help a young person begin to understand life. Still, many underestimate the impact that one seemingly small decision can make in changing the course of a person’s life. John Steinbeck, in his book Cannery Row, shows how such small desires can rob a person of control over his life, forcing him into an endless yet never gratifying cycle. The “trap” Steinbeck refers to is the self-destructive cycle of belief that if one only achieves certain goals such as a good job, having a family or living in a nice house, he will find true happiness and satisfaction. Mack and the boys are the focus of Cannery …show more content…
While “Doc has the hands of a brain surgeon, and a cool warm mind... (he) would listen to any kind of nonsense and change it for you to a kind of wisdom...Every one who knew him was indebted to him.” (Steinbeck 28,29). Through Doc’s actions one learns that the “trap” isn’t having a job or a house, rather it is an incessant commitment to one’s job, and by fully investing in a career one doesn’t leave room to develop relationships. Talented enough to find success in the world, Doc avoids the “trap” by showing more concern for others’ gain than his own, and by doing so makes priceless connections. Spending time developing friendships, Doc spends time with Mack and the boys, “‘Hi Doc’, said Mack. ‘Keepin’ pretty busy?’ ‘Busy as I want’, said Doc.” (Steinbeck 160). Although Doc had every opportunity to lead a life of worldly successes, he made the rare choice of pursuing a simple and rewarding lifestyle. Even though human passions encourage a materialistic lifestyle, sometimes all one wants is a day off, which is what Doc gets to do whenever he wants. Another character who balances worldly commitments is Lee Chong, whose “grocery opened at dawn and did not close until the last wandering vagrant dime had been spent or retired for the night. Not that Lee …show more content…
After they moved into the Palace Flophouse, an abandoned building, “Mack and the boys sat on the floor, played cards hunkered down, and slept on the hard boards. Perhaps, save for an accident of weather, they might have always lived that way.”(Steinbeck 40). Mack and the boys’ lack of obligations and materialistic needs allow them to keep values, childlike in their simplicity. Contrary to common belief, people do not outgrow their childlike simplicity and appreciation, but rather are forced to, in order to survive in this materialistic culture. When the boys were talking amongst themselves, Hazel said, “‘I bet Mack could of been president of the U.S. if he wanted,’ he said. ‘What could he do with it if he had it?’ Jones asked. ‘There wouldn’t be no fun in that.’”(Steinbeck 84). Ironically, those whose lives are lacking by worldly measures are often those who posses a unique sense of contentment and satisfaction, displayed in the fact that Mack could have had anything materialistic he wanted but chose a lifestyle suited to his personality. Whether they realize it or not, Steinbeck illustrates how many people bring their misery upon themselves, as they force themselves into long hours, strenuous jobs, or other situations, to achieve materialistic goals, bringing to mind the age old adage; “money can’t buy
The poison/ dark parts in the book Cannery Row makes the novel a deep commentary on human society. It shows that, in the real world, these type of things and happen; Steinbeck does not sugarcoat human society. The poison in the creampuff acts to balance and anchor the rest of the novel to a more realistic world. The poison keeps the novel from being much like a fairytale where they live happily ever after at the end. It gives the novel a more realism and it is also use to balance some of the comical parts of the novel.
He saw every day as an opportunity to make a new friend, start a new adventure, or make someone smile. During the weeks McCandless was isolated from the rest of society he wrote in his journal an optimistic outlook on his journey. He acknowledged his shortcomings and every success during his adventure. When times got harder and he was struggling to try to find food, another ride, or a way to protect himself from the elements McCandless would write about how he knew something bigger and better was soon to happen. McCandless was also able to share his positivity with many people he met during his journey.
Desperate to fulfill this dream, he takes $6,500 of his mother’s insurance money that she obtains shortly beforehand following the death of Walter Sr. and strikes a deal with two friends of his to purchase a liquor store. This causes him to be scammed by one of them. Langston Hughes’ poem accurately represents the state of the family after Walter’s investment. In the play, the immediate answer to Walter’s betrayal of the family is to “explode” with anger.
History is an essential factor within time, present and future, even today several have learned from events or works written in the past due to their constant lessons and messages being expressed. Within the United States specifically 1929-1941, one event that several learned from is the impact of the Great depression. Throughout the Great depression, as stock markets crashed it soon resulted in banks entering bankruptcy reluctantly closing down. ” Millions of families lost their savings as numerous banks collapsed in the early 1930’s unable to make mortgage or rent payments, many were deprived of their homes or were evicted from their apartments” [...] “In 1933, the average family income had dropped to 1,500, 40 percent less than the 1929 average family income of 2,300” (Bryson 1).
The power of greed can destroy people and their wonderful and simple lives. It is not a physical power that physically kills you but rather a power that gets in your soul and destroys you from the inside. Greed is shown throughout The Pearl. The author showed greed throughout the book by using foreshadowing, symbolism, and characterization. John Steinbeck, the author, used all of these devices to show that greed was able to take over people 's souls and change their state of minds because of the pearl’s ability to change people.
We have all been guilty of wanting more, when we already have plenty. Whether it’s another piece of cake, a fourth pair of converse, or a few extra phone covers, we don’t consciously think about everything we’ve accumulated in the short span of our lives. Instead, we think ‘why not?’ and add it into our collection of stuff. But does buying more, owning more, and having more, necessarily guarantee happiness?
Steinbeck’s use of rhetorical strategies throughout the passage enables him to illustrate his message about free will, emphasizing the potential and significance of timshel and creativity in the essence of humanity and the threats against it. He utilizes diction, imagery, and rhetorical appeals to elucidate his message and persuade readers of their role in asserting their individuality. Steinbeck’s use of imagery in the first paragraph illustrates the extent of the potential of free will through his vivid description of the “glory [that] lights up the mind of a man” (Steinbeck 131) and its transformative qualities. This is significant as it delineates the role of free will in humanity, defining a “man’s importance in the world.” (Steinbeck
Near the end of Cannery Row, John Steinbeck includes a story about a gopher. Even though it seems random, this story is actually a parable about Doc and his realization that he will always feel alone despite being surrounded by the denizens of Cannery Row. The similarities between the gopher and Doc are apparent after viewing the quotes from the poem Black Marigolds in the surrounding chapters, quotes from other characters, and the descriptions of the rats and rattlesnakes at the end of the book. Both the gopher and Doc are dissatisfied despite having perfect lives. The gopher had it all.
Showing that Lee is a combination of a businessman and a kind individual.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay People’s realities are shaped by their experiences of failing while trying to achieve their dreams. For years people have shaped and/or destroyed their reality by trying to catch their dreams. People strive everyday to achieve their dreams, but in reality they never will. John Steinbeck uses many rhetorical appeals to help the reader understand how the American Dream can be with his experiences using ethos, paradox, and repetition.
The spirit of unity emerges as the one unfailing source of strength in Steinbeck’s novel. He tries and accomplishes in conveying it to the reader, through imagery. On multiple accounts,
Then he realizes that he was not going to stay with his money when he die. At the end, he helped his employee with a monetary situation. Further, he went to his nephew’s Christmas dinner. Significantly, this novel helps people retrain the meaning of being humble and kind with others. Something that is very important about this novel is that it teaches a lesson of helping others, because you are not going to stay with your money when you die.
John Steinbeck has a style of writing unparalleled in history and in the modern world. In the same way, his philosophies are also unparalleled, with his focus in socialism not extending to communism or abnegation of spiritualism. His ideal world is utopian, holding the dust bowl migrant at the same level as the yeoman farmer was held in Jeffersonian times. In The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck Steinbeck, who posses impregnable technique, conveys his message of a group working tirelessly for the betterment of the community.
(Steinbeck 530) By now, Jim has proved that he is a leader, and that he has found meaning to his life through the Party and the strike. Ultimately, Jim developed greatly from the beginning of the novel, to the moments shortly before his death. At the beginning of the novel, his life seemed pointless, unfulfilling, and miserable.
His constant attempt to find fulfillment through others reveals a bitter truth about him: he will never be fulfilled. Due to his indecisiveness, Nick’s life is constantly at an impasse. Originally from a “well-to-do” (6) family, his life would have been comfortable, a clear path set before