Summary

John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, published in 1945, is a beloved classic that paints a vivid portrait of Depression-era Monterey, California. Set in a rundown neighborhood lined with sardine canneries, the novel eschews traditional plot structure in favor of interconnected vignettes about the area's colorful inhabitants. Steinbeck's humorous yet poignant depiction of society's outcasts struggling to survive and find meaning resonated with readers, inspiring a 1982 film adaptation starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. The book's enduring popularity even led to the real-life Ocean View Avenue in Monterey being renamed “Cannery Row” in honor of Steinbeck's work.

Plot

Set in the Great Depression era, Cannery Row follows the lives of a diverse group of characters in Monterey, California. The story centers around Mack and his friends, unemployed men living in a converted fish-meal shack. Determined to do something nice for their friend Doc, a marine biologist, they decide to throw him a party.

Unfortunately, their first attempt at organizing the celebration goes awry, resulting in the destruction of Doc's laboratory and home. Feeling guilty, Mack and his companions resolve to make amends by planning a second, more successful party. As this main plot unfolds, Steinbeck weaves in various vignettes that introduce readers to other colorful residents of Cannery Row.

These interconnected stories involve characters such as Lee Chong, the local grocer; Dora Flood, the brothel owner; and Henri, an eccentric boat builder. Through these episodic narratives, Steinbeck paints a vivid picture of life in this working-class neighborhood, exploring themes of community, friendship, and the struggle for survival during challenging times.

Themes

• Community and interconnectedness

• Acceptance of life's circumstances

• Contrast between appearance and reality

• Value of friendship and camaraderie

• Nostalgia for a simpler time

• Survival and resourcefulness in the face of hardship

• Loneliness and isolation

• Unexpected kindness and the complex nature of human relationships 

Setting

Set during the Great Depression in the 1930s, Cannery Row unfolds in the titular neighborhood of Monterey, California. This coastal area bustles with sardine canneries, creating a unique backdrop for Steinbeck's colorful cast of characters. The novel vividly captures the essence of a specific time and place, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of this working-class community.

At the heart of the story is Ocean View Avenue, later renamed Cannery Row in honor of Steinbeck's work. The street is lined with sardine canneries, grocery stores, and other businesses that serve the local population. Key locations include Lee Chong's grocery store, Doc's marine biology laboratory, and Dora Flood's Bear Flag Restaurant—a thinly veiled brothel. These establishments form the nucleus of the neighborhood's social and economic life.

Beyond the immediate setting of Cannery Row, Steinbeck hints at the broader context of Depression-era America. The characters' struggles with poverty, unemployment, and social marginalization reflect the challenges faced by many during this tumultuous period. However, the author also highlights the resilience and sense of community that flourish among the Row's eclectic inhabitants, painting a nuanced portrait of life on society's fringes.

Characters

• Doc: A marine biologist who runs Western Biological Laboratories. He is kind-hearted, widely respected, and secretly lonely.

• Mack: The charismatic leader of “the boys,” a group of homeless men. Though clever and well-meaning, he often causes trouble.

• Lee Chong: The shrewd Chinese immigrant who owns Lee Chong's Heavenly Flower Grocery. He is tolerant of the locals' antics and their debts.

• Dora Flood: The generous madam who runs the Bear Flag Restaurant, the local brothel. Though disliked by the women in town, she is charitable to those in need.

• Hazel: A simple-minded but good-hearted young man who lives with Mack and the boys. He was named by his exhausted mother.

• Eddie: A part-time bartender who lives at the Palace Flophouse with Mack and the boys, and keeps them supplied with leftover drinks from the bar.

• Henri: An eccentric painter who lives on a perpetually unfinished boat, which he constantly rebuilds to avoid actually sailing.

• Frankie: A boy marked by his struggles with motor skills. He adores Doc and hangs around his lab. 

• The Chinaman: A mysterious old man who scavenges for food under the piers. He appears almost ghost-like to the other characters.

Quick facts

• Published in 1945, Cannery Row was written by John Steinbeck as an attempt to recapture the atmosphere of 1930s Monterey, California.

• The novel has no traditional plot structure, instead focusing on vignettes and character studies of the inhabitants of Cannery Row.

• Steinbeck based the character of Doc on his real-life friend Ed Ricketts, a marine biologist.

• The actual street in Monterey that inspired the book, Ocean View Avenue, was renamed “Cannery Row” in 1958 to honor Steinbeck's novel.

• Steinbeck wrote a sequel to Cannery Row called Sweet Thursday, published in 1954. This book continues the story of the Cannery Row characters and introduces new ones, focusing on Doc finding love.

• The character Mack was inspired by a real Cannery Row resident named Harold Otis “Gabe” Bicknell.

• A film adaptation of Cannery Row, starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger, was released in 1982.

• The BBC News listed Cannery Row as one of the 100 most influential novels in 2019.

• Musician Will Oldham used the name “Palace Flophouse” early in his career, inspired by the novel.

• A stage adaptation of Cannery Row was commissioned in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the novel’s publication.

About the Author

John Steinbeck was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. Born in 1902 in Salinas, California, Steinbeck drew inspiration from the people and landscapes of his home state throughout his career. He achieved popular success in 1935 with Tortilla Flat. Yet his literary reputation was cemented by works known as the Dust Bowl trilogy—In Dubious Battle (1936), Of Mice and Men (1937), and his epic novel about an Oklahoma migrant family, The Grapes of Wrath (1939), which won the Pulitzer Prize. 

Steinbeck continued to explore themes of economic hardship, friendship, and the human connection to the land in later works like Cannery Row (1945) and East of Eden (1952). In 1962, Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his “realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception.” His final novel The Winter of Our Discontent (1961) examined moral decline in America, while his travelog Travels with Charley (1962) recounted a road trip across the country with his dog.

Steinbeck died in 1968, leaving behind a rich literary legacy. His vivid characters, powerful social commentary, and lyrical descriptions of California landscapes continue to resonate with readers. His works have become a staple of high school and college curricula as well as inspired numerous stage and screen adaptations. The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas celebrates the author's life and work, ensuring his place in the American literary canon for generations to come.