Cannery Row is a story about people living in the same almost run down area, all working for various things. All of the people on Cannery Row were diverse but one thing they had in common was they were trying to obtain some sort of success. The definition of success varied from character to character, but it was a constant social issue throughout the story.
Most would say that Dora was the most successful character in the book, but in my eyes her success was based upon the exploitation of women. The one positive side of Dora’s business was using her girls to help out. When influenza broke out throughout the Row, she sent her girls out into the community to comfort the sick and bring them soup. Her success with the hookers was tangible, but the internal satisfaction with helping out the sick community was a more gratifying success.
Another interpretation of success can be counted as the party that Mack and his friends threw for Doc because they thought it would be a nice thing to do. Although the first time they attempted to throw Doc a party it didn’t particularly work out, but the second time the party worked out and it was a success. The level of achievement isn’t documented as clear as everyone else’s in the book, but they worked hard for the final product of the party and had a purpose in their lives.
Symbolism in John Steinbeck’s novels plays a large role so that he can portray his real feelings about a variety of things. Much like Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck throws in characters that accentuate his beliefs. With Cannery Row, much of what the characters did were not morally correct by the readers consensus, but by Steinbeck’s, you never know. Everyone has a different idea of success and throughout the book John Steinbeck proved that to be true.
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