Cannery Row Lessons Learned
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The novel Cannery Row written by John Steinbeck is a story void of one main plot
but still manages to have a strong, powerful "deeper meaning". The many small stories
along the way never end up tying into the book like one would expect, but rather just
leaves a trace of its presence as a shadow in the back of the reader's mind. The first few
stories in this book cause the reader to think that the author is just forming a foundation
for the setting and plot to the book. But as the book goes on and only a few of the
characters make return appearances, it is obvious that Cannery Row is almost a string of
unconnected stories. The only thing that keeps this book bound together, is that there is a
vague connection between the themes of the small stories in this book. There is one
reoccurring aura and that is darkness. The darkness of having to learn lessons about the
real world through experience. Nobody can learn all the hardships of life without truly
living through them.
The ability to break from the story, and briefly speak on something else which may
not be directly related, but often has something to do with the theme is an aptitude that
Steinbeck possesses. In the first break of the story we see the old mysterious china-man
and the little boy...