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How Does Steinbeck Use Biblical Allusions In Cannery Row

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In “Steinbeck's Cannery Row: The Gospel According to John,” Charles L. Etheridge Jr. explains his formalist viewpoint on how Steinbeck’s biblical allusions in Cannery Row helped establish his theology. Etheridge references Steinbeck’s use of the biblical theme of light in the first section of the novel and how Steinbeck’s “objective narration” (Etheridge 2) presents itself in Cannery Row. Steinbeck also presents a straightforward biblical allusion through rendition of the Lord being in nature and balancing life. Likewise, Etheridge mentions how Steinbeck uses the tide pool in Cannery Row as a microcosm of the real world and as a metaphor for life creating other life. He also recounts how Steinbeck, through Doc’s actions and thoughts, retells
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248 Words | 1 Pages

Though the people of Cannery Row have their own quirks, they all share similar traits. Doc, Lee, and Dora are the caretakers of the people in Cannery Row since they help people in rough times. Doc helps people who are sick, who need financial help, and Doc loves to educate people, thus “Everyone who knew him was indebted to him” (30) and they all thought that they must do something nice for him. Lee is known to trust his clients, even if they did have high amounts of debt with him, and he tried to make the best of situations, as he did with Horace Abbeville and the Palace Flophouse. Dora is known throughout the town to be incredibly philanthropic.

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876 Words | 4 Pages

At the end of the book, “[Doc] wiped his eyes with the back of his back of his hand. And the white rats scampered and scrambled in their cages. And behind the glass the rattlesnakes lay still and stared into the space with their dusty frowning eyes” (185). In this particular scene, Steinbeck highlights the coexistence between man and animal; as Doc is overwhelmed with emotions, the rats scampers and the snakes stare into the empty space. This supports the argument that man is more than just an animal due to their ability to have emotions.

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1302 Words | 6 Pages

Everyone’s role in society varies depending on their profession and their community. In Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, each member brings their own value to their ecosystem. Doc Ricketts, the marine biologist., is one of the many people who showcases another side to Cannery Row and the other members of the system. Doc Ricketts is perceived differently in a general society where he would be seen the complete opposite from Steinbeck’s view of Doc being perfect.

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1177 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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275 Words | 2 Pages

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.

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613 Words | 3 Pages

Andy’s experience is one of unusual circumstances. Living up to his title of a “brave and beautiful boy”, this leading character chooses to tease the one man in town that all fear: the Chinaman. Through the author’s utilization of point of view, the reader can perceive the uniqueness of the Chinaman two very distinct ways: either through the view of the townspeople or Andy, himself. However, it is through Andy, and the author’s detailed depiction of this specific incident, that we as readers can look deep into the eyes of the Chinaman. This strange visual symbolism provided in this passage of Cannery Row is what guides us into the lonely, isolated soul that is the Chinaman’s life.

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277 Words | 2 Pages

The theme of the novel is about the quality of human life being dependent upon good intentions and heart. The novel celebrates every type of person, while showing their flaws and their good nature. As Steinback says, Cannery Row is a town filled with “whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches” (5) and through another point of view the inhabitants could be seen as “Saints and angels and martyrs and holy men” (5). The people of the town are lower-class citizens and have unconventional jobs, and they are in the midst of a great national recession. However, they are still kind-hearted, grateful, and understanding.

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1482 Words | 6 Pages

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

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537 Words | 3 Pages

Characters that come and go can be found throughout Cannery Row, written by John Steinbeck. Was this done by coincidence or was there a specific reason why Steinbeck introduced characters and by the end of a chapter ended their role in the story? Chapter 26 in particular, there was two new characters introduced into Cannery Row that had no immediate or evident impact unless investigated deeper than an initial glance. John Steinbeck purposely introduced new characters into Chapter 26 and others to affect the stories meaning, inspire thought, and influence story advancement.

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961 Words | 4 Pages

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,

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366 Words | 2 Pages

Obadiah Jones The summarization of Cannery Row authored by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck published Cannery Row in 1945 . Steinbeck has a personal association with a place called Cannery Row ,California. Steinbeck lived some what 30 miles away from it therefore Steinbeck making up tall tales about the citizens of Cannery Row. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Malloy moved into the boiler having to crawl through the fire door to meet in the head room.

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175 Words | 1 Pages

Success is not necessarily finding a passion and pursuing it or finding a job and getting money. Success can be defined in many ways. Success can be found in community and friendship, which can lead to happiness. Cannery Row is about a group of friends trying to adapt to their environment. They, Mack and the boys, started from nothing and then created something out of it.

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488 Words | 2 Pages

Obadiah Jones Cannery Row a Place to Remember The author of Cannery Row, John Steinbeck, published the book in 1945. An obscure, little town, Cannery Row, California, had been a significant part of Steinbeck’s ordinary life. Approximately 30 miles away lived Steinbeck, therefore, this was the ideal setting for Steinbeck to produce tall tales about the citizens’ experiences at Cannery Row. In fact, one of his fantasies about this place was Mr. and Mrs. Sam Malloy, who moved into a boiler and had to slither through the fire door to gain access to their living room.

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579 Words | 3 Pages

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.

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647 Words | 3 Pages

Biblical imagery in Of Mice and Men In the novel of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck uses underlying biblical imagery to get his message across. The two main characters, George and Lennie, have a strong companionship with one another as well as a quest for their own personal paradise. Steinbeck uses the stories of Cain and Abel, The Garden of Eden, and woman as temptress to portray themes of brotherhood, an ongoing quest for paradise, and woman as a temptation for failure. Steinbeck uses the biblical story of Cain and Abel to portray a theme of brotherhood between Lennie and George.

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