Sweet Thursday (1954)
Writer's Style
There were a lot of similarities between Sweet Thursday and the two other Steinbeck novels I chose to read. The main thing to me was the dialoge. the broken english and certain characters that spoke perfectly was recurring. Prostitution was in it like in East of Eden. The idea that man needs a purpose was an idea. the way he wrote and got his ideas acrossed was still there.
I was disappointed by how the book wasnt as deep as the others, in my opinion. The characters were not as developed. His intelligent characters were still ignorant in their own respectful way, instead of being a symbol of wisdome.
It was a cute love story. That cannot be denied, yet, it could have been better if he had added more layers to his main characters. (This may be because it is the second book to another. Still, the introduction of new characters should have added to it. Not taken away from his brilliance.)
There were a lot of similarities between Sweet Thursday and the two other Steinbeck novels I chose to read. The main thing to me was the dialoge. the broken english and certain characters that spoke perfectly was recurring. Prostitution was in it like in East of Eden. The idea that man needs a purpose was an idea. the way he wrote and got his ideas acrossed was still there.
I was disappointed by how the book wasnt as deep as the others, in my opinion. The characters were not as developed. His intelligent characters were still ignorant in their own respectful way, instead of being a symbol of wisdome.
It was a cute love story. That cannot be denied, yet, it could have been better if he had added more layers to his main characters. (This may be because it is the second book to another. Still, the introduction of new characters should have added to it. Not taken away from his brilliance.)
Theme
The Common Bond of Humanity and Love Which Make Goodness and Happiness Possible:
This sounds almost too optimistic.
Humanity sounds like there is pity involved, maybe there is. It still brings out the good in others. In the novel, the good is brought out when the small town comes together to help the character, Doc. The story revolves around him, with outside opinions shown. At the beginning he has come back from war. He has changed which unnerves not only him but everyone around him- due to the fact that he was the town rock. The pillar that did not evolve. Doc is wrapped up in his desire (need) to write a paper dealing with octopi.
Love comes into the equation through the town deciding that the only thing that will save Doc is to help him find a dame. Because that fixes everything. Though there were mistakes made and disasters to be had, Doc and the woman, Suzy, that was forced upon him, did find love within their mutual respect for each others blunt honesty and fitting personalities.
People looking out for those they care about, best intentions, are the main theme- how they allow goodness to blossom and happiness to thrive. They wouldnt exist if everyone was always concerned about their own problems and selfish needs.Its just not possible.
This sounds almost too optimistic.
Humanity sounds like there is pity involved, maybe there is. It still brings out the good in others. In the novel, the good is brought out when the small town comes together to help the character, Doc. The story revolves around him, with outside opinions shown. At the beginning he has come back from war. He has changed which unnerves not only him but everyone around him- due to the fact that he was the town rock. The pillar that did not evolve. Doc is wrapped up in his desire (need) to write a paper dealing with octopi.
Love comes into the equation through the town deciding that the only thing that will save Doc is to help him find a dame. Because that fixes everything. Though there were mistakes made and disasters to be had, Doc and the woman, Suzy, that was forced upon him, did find love within their mutual respect for each others blunt honesty and fitting personalities.
People looking out for those they care about, best intentions, are the main theme- how they allow goodness to blossom and happiness to thrive. They wouldnt exist if everyone was always concerned about their own problems and selfish needs.Its just not possible.
Characters
Doc: The story revolves around him- due to his great importance to the small town of Cannery Row. He has changed from being a man content with himself and his work, life until currently. He finds that he needs a purpose. He finds a sort of purpose in his marine business of selling ocean creatures to various places like universities. Aside from his business, he becomes obsessed with a paper he feels that he needs to finish (or at least start). Despite this thorn, he helps the town with their problmes, like checking illegal alcohol, taking care of others medical issues, never bothers the local brothel, Bear Flag. Throughout the novel he realizes that the only thing he really needs and sorely lacks is love. Companionship. Through his friends, he finds what he needs in Suzy.
Suzy: We first meet her when she arrives in town, flat broke, and finds a job at Bear Flag. She is not fit to be a prostitue, however. She is lovable and very passionate. She has rough edges. At first, her coarse manners and lack of education is not appealing to Doc, but he respected her honesty. Near the end she leaves Bear Flag and gets a job as a waitress, lives in an old, abandoned boiler. With this experience she matures and learns to trust her abilities and have self-reliance. With this awakening she allows herself to be with Doc.
Mack: He is a well-intentioned schemer and is known for his ulterior motives. He is the leader of a few men and gets them into trouble with his crazy ideas. These ideas were made to please Doc and entertain himself. He is an alcoholic vagrant. However, he can be philisophical and does have moral sense. He values loyalty and faithful companionchip deeply. He does his best to take care of the friends who follow him.
Hazel: He is one of the men who follows Mack and he adores Doc. He is not very bright. In many ways hs is like a child. When it is predicted that he will be the president of America, he becomes very worried and panics. He feels that he is not able to take on the responsibility (rightly so). Trying to learn how to take on difficult decisions- in order to ready himself for presidency- he breaks Doc's arm. This action leaves Doc needing a way to collect octopi for his paper, and Suzy is the woman for the job.
Suzy: We first meet her when she arrives in town, flat broke, and finds a job at Bear Flag. She is not fit to be a prostitue, however. She is lovable and very passionate. She has rough edges. At first, her coarse manners and lack of education is not appealing to Doc, but he respected her honesty. Near the end she leaves Bear Flag and gets a job as a waitress, lives in an old, abandoned boiler. With this experience she matures and learns to trust her abilities and have self-reliance. With this awakening she allows herself to be with Doc.
Mack: He is a well-intentioned schemer and is known for his ulterior motives. He is the leader of a few men and gets them into trouble with his crazy ideas. These ideas were made to please Doc and entertain himself. He is an alcoholic vagrant. However, he can be philisophical and does have moral sense. He values loyalty and faithful companionchip deeply. He does his best to take care of the friends who follow him.
Hazel: He is one of the men who follows Mack and he adores Doc. He is not very bright. In many ways hs is like a child. When it is predicted that he will be the president of America, he becomes very worried and panics. He feels that he is not able to take on the responsibility (rightly so). Trying to learn how to take on difficult decisions- in order to ready himself for presidency- he breaks Doc's arm. This action leaves Doc needing a way to collect octopi for his paper, and Suzy is the woman for the job.
Plot Diagram
Major Events:
- Doc Returns from war (finding Cannery Row changed and his business in shambles).
-Suzy Shows up in town.
-Doc Tries to rebuils his buisness, Suzy causes trouble at Bear Flag. (The owner of the brothel realizes that she is not meant for the line of work and tries to marry her off. Because Doc is in need of lifting his spirits, might as well match them together). Mack and the boys help her fix Doc and Suzy together.
-Mack and the boys host a party that does not end well, causing Suzy to leave Bear Flag and start a life on her own.
-Hazel breaks Doc's arm, leaving him with no way of driving to his desierable tide pools.
-Suzy hears about Doc's injury and offers to drive him and help him search for the Octopi. Doc tells her he loves her.
-They leave for their trip.
- Doc Returns from war (finding Cannery Row changed and his business in shambles).
-Suzy Shows up in town.
-Doc Tries to rebuils his buisness, Suzy causes trouble at Bear Flag. (The owner of the brothel realizes that she is not meant for the line of work and tries to marry her off. Because Doc is in need of lifting his spirits, might as well match them together). Mack and the boys help her fix Doc and Suzy together.
-Mack and the boys host a party that does not end well, causing Suzy to leave Bear Flag and start a life on her own.
-Hazel breaks Doc's arm, leaving him with no way of driving to his desierable tide pools.
-Suzy hears about Doc's injury and offers to drive him and help him search for the Octopi. Doc tells her he loves her.
-They leave for their trip.
Passage Analysis
"His old life came back to him- a plateau of contentment with small peaks of excitement but none of the jagged pain of original thinking, none of the loneliness of invention. His Phonograph played softly, played the safe and certain fugues of Bach, clear as equations. As he worked, a benign feeling came over him. He liked himself again as he once had; liked himself as a person, the way he might like anyone else. The self-hatred which poisons so many people and which had been irritating him was gone for the time. The top voice of his mind sang peacefulness and order, and the raucous middle voice was gentle; it mumbled and snarled but it could not be heard. The lowest voice of all was silent, dreaming of a warm safe sea." --page 92
I really like this passage. To me, It's raw. It shows how everyone finds themselves retreating into old habits and safe places that allow them moments of peace. Helps them keep sane. It talks about how the mind can kill the body. Thinking can make you fly to a million things that can break your heart and destroy your will to even try. This is where you see that Doc does have the need to be loved. "Dreaming of a warm sea"...He desires someone who can calm his racing mind, or someone who can at least support him when he feels like he is not good enough. He doesn't realize this though. He is submerged in an ocean of music and past comforts.
I really like this passage. To me, It's raw. It shows how everyone finds themselves retreating into old habits and safe places that allow them moments of peace. Helps them keep sane. It talks about how the mind can kill the body. Thinking can make you fly to a million things that can break your heart and destroy your will to even try. This is where you see that Doc does have the need to be loved. "Dreaming of a warm sea"...He desires someone who can calm his racing mind, or someone who can at least support him when he feels like he is not good enough. He doesn't realize this though. He is submerged in an ocean of music and past comforts.
Symbols
Tides: Doc is basically a marine biologist. The fact that he works with tides is so fitting because like a tide, he is changing. Leaving old habits and bring new life to himself. Suzy is a tide as well. She finds herself and matures- Which helps her realize that she needs Doc.
Otopi: Doc's expieriments on the poor animals and how they are the idea for his paper reflect humanity. Sometimes we are taken out of our element and brought somewhere new. Maybe we don't like what we must deal with, but deal with it we must.
The Seer: He was crazy. But, his mind was open to possibilities and love. His brief character status brought Doc the idea that he needs love. He broguth subtle change and the reminder that sometimes, the craziest of things, maybe something that terrifies us, is what we really need.
Otopi: Doc's expieriments on the poor animals and how they are the idea for his paper reflect humanity. Sometimes we are taken out of our element and brought somewhere new. Maybe we don't like what we must deal with, but deal with it we must.
The Seer: He was crazy. But, his mind was open to possibilities and love. His brief character status brought Doc the idea that he needs love. He broguth subtle change and the reminder that sometimes, the craziest of things, maybe something that terrifies us, is what we really need.