what was cannery row about

What is the setting of Cannery Row?

Cannery Row is a novel by American author John Steinbeck, published in 1945. It is set during the Great Depression in Monterey, California, on a street lined with sardine canneries that is known as Cannery Row.

Who are the main characters in Cannery Row?

The story revolves around the people living there: Lee Chong, the local grocer; Doc, a marine biologist; and Mack, the leader of a group of derelict people. The actual location Steinbeck was writing about, Ocean View Avenue in Monterey, was later renamed "Cannery Row" in honor of the book.

What are the vignettes in Cannery Row about?

These vignettes are often characterized by direct or indirect reference to extreme violence: suicides, corpses, and the cruelty of the natural world. The "story" of Cannery Row follows the adventures of Mack and the boys, a group of unemployed yet resourceful men who inhabit a converted fish-meal shack on the edge of a vacant lot down on the Row.

Why did Steinbeck write Cannery Row?

He wrote Cannery Row in 1944 in an attempt to recover a Depression era world in Monterey which was, by then, already inaccessible to Steinbeck.

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What is the point of Cannery Row?

Cannery Row, like many of Steinbeck's other works, has something in common with so-called "local color," or regional, writing. It seeks to capture the spirit of one of the rougher areas of Monterey, California, a port town south of San Francisco on the California coast.

What was Cannery Row written about?

First published in 1945, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as it is—both the exuberance of community and the loneliness of the individual.

What does the ending of Cannery Row mean?

The poem he's reciting is about a breakup, and its author spends about 50 stanzas talking about how he remembers what used to be. (Check out "Shout Outs" for more on that.) So, we get the idea that something is making Doc sad and nostalgic.

What was wrong with Frankie in Cannery Row?

A mentally handicapped boy who is neglected by his mother and taken in by Doc. Frankie is incapable of doing any work; he just seems to do everything a little bit wrong. He loves Doc, though, and frequently tells him so. Frankie is institutionalized after breaking in to a jewelry store to steal a gift for Doc.

When was Cannery Row written?

1945Cannery Row (1945), one of Steinbeck's best and most widely read fictional works, immortalized Cannery Row as a one-of-a-kind neighborhood of fish packing plants, bordellos and flophouses, and made it the most famous street in America.

How many of Steinbeck's novels have been turned into films?

SeventeenSeventeen of Steinbeck's works have been made into TV or studio movies, and Steinbeck himself received three Academy Award nominations for writing.

What year does Cannery Row take place?

Monterey California is the setting of John Steinbeck's book, published in 1945 and set in 1938. It is the story of a poverty stricken group of guys Mack and the Boys, and a scientist, Doc, who was interested in studying the marine life of the area.

Who wrote Cannery Row?

John SteinbeckCannery Row / AuthorJohn Ernst Steinbeck Jr. was an American writer and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception." He has been called "a giant of American letters." Wikipedia

What is the history of cannery row?

The history of the Row is a fascinating tale, from Native American, Asian and European settlement, through the boom and bust of the whaling and sardine industries, ...

What culture lived in Cannery Row?

First inhabited by Native Americans, then settled by the Spanish, it later became home to many Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese immigrants. Each culture left a unique mark on the history and legacy of Cannery Row, including the early success of the area’s squid, sardine, whale and salmon fishing industries.

Why was Monterey the sardine capital of the world?

Within five years the industry would die on its waterfront for lack of sardines . The Monterey Cannery & Warehouse buildings, located at 700 and 711 Cannery Row, are now a place for visitors to find unique shops and restaurants.

When did the canning industry start in Monterey?

1902. Start of the Monterey canning industry: Booth Cannery in the Monterey harbor and the Japanese canning venture, Monterey Fishing & Canning Co., on the coastline near McAbee Beach. 1906.

What happened to the oil tank in Fisherman's Wharf?

When they exploded, a river of flaming oil destroyed two canneries on the way to the sea, and burned on the bay, nearly reaching Fisherman's Wharf before wind and tide changed to save it.

Who owns the restaurant row in Monterey?

Ted Balestreri & Bert Cutino, experienced Monterey restaurant managers open their own upscale venture "on the wrong side of the tracks" - Cannery Row - with the Sardine Factory Restaurant, starting today's "Restaurant Row."

When did the Chinese settle in Monterey?

1851. Chinese fishing families crossed the Pacific in junks and settled at Point Ohlones ("China Point") and established Monterey's fishing industry. In 1927, the American Tin Cannery was constructed on this site and survives today as a retail and entertainment center. 1880.

A Family Fun-For-All

From four-wheeled surrey adventures to shareable ice cream sundaes to prime beachfront picnic spots, Monterey offers classic elements for family fun.

Cannery Row Holiday Tree Lighting

Cannery Row resumes its annual tree lighting tradition in 2021, bringing back the free seasonal celebration after last year’s pandemic pause. Santa will make his Monterey appearance on November 26 in Steinbeck Plaza. While he’s being extra responsible by practicing social distancing this year, Jolly Old St.

Reopening Q&A

As vaccination rates rise and California’s quarantine and mask guidelines relax, hotels, restaurants, retailers and attractions are happily welcoming back guests. Here’s what’s happening on Cannery Row, plus some trusted resources for additional details.

What is the setting of Cannery Row?

Cannery Row was the setting of John Steinbeck 's novels Cannery Row (1945) and Sweet Thursday (1954). Both were the basis for the 1982 movie Cannery Row , starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. It is also mentioned in Bob Dylan 's song " Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands ".

Why was Cannery Row demolished?

Murray. Known as "Casa de las Olas" or the Murray Hacienda, the mansion was demolished in the 1940s to make way for the expansion of more canneries. A historical marker is located on the site of the former mansion.

What is the name of the street in Cannery Row?

It was the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973. The street name, formerly a nickname for Ocean View Avenue, became official in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his well-known novel Cannery Row. In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described the street as "a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream."

Why did the canneries fail in Monterey Bay?

The canneries failed after the collapse of the fishing industry in Monterey Bay in the mid-1950s, which resulted from a combination of factors, including unfavorable oceanic conditions, over-fishing, and competition from other species.

When did Monterey Bay Aquarium open?

The Monterey Bay Aquarium (opened in 1984) is located at the north end of Cannery Row, at the former site of the major Hovden Cannery. Norwegian immigrant Knut Hovden founded Hovden Food Products Corporation which opened on July 7, 1916.

What is the name of the movie that was adapted from the novel Cannery Row?

Cannery Row is a 1982 American comedy-drama film directed by David S. Ward in his directorial debut, starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. The movie is adapted from John Steinbeck 's novels Cannery Row (1945) and Sweet Thursday (1954).

Who is Doc in Cannery Row?

Doc, a self-employed marine biologist, lives in a dockside warehouse and researches octopuses. Suzy DeSoto, a girl from the local bordello, is working there only out of necessity. A collection of linked vignettes describes life on Cannery Row.

Where is the skid row?

The story is about the skid row denizens of Monterey, California, during World War II. As declining fish stocks are shutting down a previously rich fishery and the dependent canning industry, bums and prostitutes lead colorful and adventurous lives in a balmy seaside setting.

Who is the seer in the book?

He depends on the gifts that mysteriously appear, such as groceries. Suzy eventually learns that the Seer is a former baseball player whom Doc injured with a pitch to the head, and now Doc takes care of him. Doc and Suzy ultimately find love.

What is cannery row?

The story of today’s Cannery Row traces back to before California statehood, when members of the Ohlone community fished the region’s fertile shores. They were followed by individuals from a collection of cultures—including Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese and Italian families who brought their own whaling and casting traditions to the coast.

When did Cannery Row become a destination?

In 1908, decades before Cannery Row became a buzzing destination that draws some four million guests annually, the Pacific Fish Company established a location along the old Ocean View Boulevard. Similar operations followed, and the local fishing industry flourished. By 1918, the district produced 1.4 million cases of sardines.

Why is Monterey County the #1 wine growing region?

The reason is readily apparent from almost every vantage point along Cannery Row – it’s the cold, deep waters of Monterey Bay! The Bay’s cooling winds and fog extend far inland, blanketing the area’s vineyards and creating perfect conditions for growing America’s favorite white wine grape.

What was the crossover in Cannery Row?

The crossovers connecting buildings on the land and coastal sides of Cannery Row date back to the district’s sardine-canning days. Conveyor belts traveling through the crossover structures carried round metal cans that were filled with fish, labeled and boxed for distribution.

Why was Ocean View Boulevard renamed to Cannery Row?

His 1945 book Cannery Row fictionalized the characters of the famous Monterey fishing district; in 1958, city officials renamed Ocean View Boulevard as Cannery Row to honor those connections.

What helped shape Monterey Bay's fishing history?

Individuals from many cultural backgrounds helped shape Monterey’s fishing history, including both native residents and immigrants from Asia and Europe. As they arrived from different homelands, these early settlers sought out different fishing opportunities—and, each community added to the cultural vibrancy of today’s Cannery Row. Here’s how the Monterey Bay’s fishing timeline unfolded, aided by the efforts of immigrants from around the globe.

How many rooms are there in the Monterey Bay Inn?

Now, the 49-room Cannery Row property makes outdoor recreation even more enticing with the new Adventure Package.

What is the cannery row?

Cannery Row. Cannery Row is a book without much of a plot. Rather, it is an attempt to capture the feeling and people of a place, the cannery district of Monterey, California, which is populated by a mix of those down on their luck and those who choose for other reasons not to live "up the hill" in the more respectable area of town.

What do Mack and the boys want to do?

Mack and the boys want to do something nice for Doc, the proprietor of a biological supply house on the Row who is a gentle and intellectual man and a friend and caretaker to all but who always seems haunted by a certain melancholy .

What is the final image of Cannery Row?

Probably the most disturbing aspect of Cannery Row 's conclusion, though, is the final image of the book: the rats and rattlesnakes in their cages. Both creatures suggest a certain inescapable malevolence about the world, while their cages suggest a lack of control or free will that keeps the characters in this book from ever really changing their status. This reinforces the image of Doc, hung over, dealing with the aftermath of a party that was meant to be a gift to him: The situation is fundam entally unfair and yet entirely unavoidable. Despite it all, there is still beauty in the world, as the description of early morning on the Row suggests and the poem Doc reads explicitly states. Perhaps beauty is more easily perceived when it is surroun ded by disappointment and human fallibility. The snakes, motionless and staring into space, seem aware of this fact and resigned to their fates.

What is Doc's party?

Doc's party is a strange mix of violent revelry and high culture. Everyone is equally involved in the fight that breaks out; everyone is equally moved by the poetry reading and the music. The end result is a democratizing of culture and lifestyles that is representative of Cannery Row at its best.

What does Doc wake up with?

Doc wakes up with a bad hangover the morning after the party. The lab is a mess. He dresses and goes over to Lee Chong's to buy beer. The grocer is barely awake but is happy that Doc has enjoyed his party. Doc puts an album of choir music on the phonograph and begins to clean up. He picks up the book of Sanskrit poetry from which he had been reading the night before and reads a bit aloud to himself. The poignancy of the final verse, which speaks of savoring life, brings tears to his eyes. The final image of the book is of the white rats and rattlesnakes in their cages that Doc has locked away from the partygoers.

What does Doc read in the opera?

When the record ends, Doc reads a translation of a sensual Sanskrit love poem, and, again, everyone is overcome with the beauty and the emotion of the work. As they sit quietly a group of strangers rushes in, having seen Dora's girls and thinking ...

Is Cannery Row a utopian novel?

There is no distinct image of violence in the last chapters of the n ovel (although the snakes hint toward violence), and the writing is as beautiful as ever. Cannery Row, thus, ends paradoxically, as a utopian work that is nevertheless relentlessly realistic. /PARAGRAPH

Is Doc still alone at the end of the book?

Doc is still alone at the end of the book, perhaps more alone than ever, despite the party. Perhaps Steinbeck is suggesting that Doc, like the gopher, may be looking in the wrong place fo r happiness, that people like him do not normally live on Cannery Row with people like Mack and Lee Chong.

What is the meaning of Doc's ruminations?

Doc's ruminations on telling the truth and lying provide some insight into the way the Row sees itself and into how Steinbeck chooses to tell his story. Lies, at least the kind that Doc tells, let everyone keep their views of the world intact.

What does the Captain offer Mack?

The Captain offers him a puppy from the litter, which Mack joyfully accepts. The Captain tells them that his wife is a member of the Legislature and has essentially abandoned their home for politics. The boys react with sympathy. He offers them a drink before they go after the frogs.

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