Comradeship: Friends or Deeply Rooted Feelings?

Honors English
29 October 2010
Comradeship: Friends or Deeply Rooted Feelings?
To have, to hold, to love, and to live whichever your fancy the comradeship in John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row is stemmed from the love of others. Many displays of affection are revealed through the relationships of Cannery Row. A few examples of these relationships would be of Doc to the boys along with the boys in and of themselves. Such an expression of friendliness would generally be considered great. Along with an expected commodity in a small town of the yesteryears, but it could be perceived that the boys of Cannery Row were homosexuals. Determining the relationships of the boys of the Palace Flophouse asks if their “sweetness of comradeship” comes from idealistic acquaintanceship or a deeper sense of belonging to one another (Person 7).
Steinbeck hints at his ideal relationships between the boys many times through out the story, a specific even of this is when the boys are frog hunting. The man’s house that they come to is vacant of a woman’s touch. The boys are much relieved of this aspect. They aren’t forced to use their manors, to wash, or to go to bed early (Person 8). Their ideals suggest that they might be better off without women. While they live on their own, without the hardships of supporting someone who seems less capable than themselves, they seem the most content. Comparing the modern businessman to the boys of the Palace Flophouse the boys appear to be much happier. They do not spend their days chasing after money, in fact, they spend their time avoiding work and enjoying each others company (Levant 171). The boys spend so much time together that they have developed a strong bond like a family or like lovers. This idea suggests at queer relations between them. The idea of gay relationships in the era of Steinbeck’s writing was taboo. Hence the non-direct mentions of the boys relationships. Their improper behaviors may suggest this sentiment.
The “bad boys” of Cannery Row can be found in society today (Lisca 154). The bums, the scum of the Earth, or leaches, call them what you will, these wretches are sometimes the happiest inhibits on this planet. They haven’t a care in the world, especially towards those trying to judge them. As for comradeship, they have each other. In the world of today, having a group of friends that can be counted upon stands for much more than a successful life. The Boys of the Palace Flophouse are certainly a happy go lucky bunch of men. Their happiness may go as far as to suggest relationships within the group of boys.
Homosexual or heterosexual relationships are not a conceived notion through out the book, but their sexual orientation could be either way. The boys don’t have too many women in their life, aside from the married man of the group escaping his wife. If they are having sexual relationships with one another, it would stand to reason. When a large group of friends stays together for an amounted period of time, certain bonds form between them. The bonds could be that of homosexual relationships or they could be that of brotherhood. Either way Steinbeck uses “alternative social relationships” to express equality and an extreme form of comradeship through out many relationships in his book (Person 10).
Another notable relationship in the book is Doc’s relationships. Doc exhibits an extreme caring, a compassion, for all the occupants of Cannery Row. The comradeship of Doc is readily seen in his surrounds. He has the perfect place to host parties, and he often does. Many people come to his parties showing that he is well liked. The phrase “we should do something nice for Doc” is repeated often in the book, especially from the Flophouse boys. Finally the boys throw a party to show their appreciation for Doc. In the process they unintentionally wreck his house. Doc is upset, but he knew the boys only had good intentions. In this manor the boys are forgiven, and Doc takes up his roll in their friendship again exuding the human’s compassion for those that are on good terms with one another. The happiness and good times continue later in the book, when the boys host Doc a birthday party that is well prepared for on Doc’s part (Mullaney 43). The sneaky preplanning, by Doc, results in a wealthy exchange of comradeship. The Doctor’s house remains in one piece showing that sometimes a little extra must be put in by one party to have a positive effect on the whole group.
Although Doc has more female friends than the boys from the Palace Flophouse, he lives mainly alone, enjoying his own company. Which may seem the opposite of comradeship although may, in fact, be one of the best aspects of a life. Since the human condition is loneliness, each man must overcome that battle to truly fit into himself comfortably. Inasmuch Doc has learned to be content like the boys of the Flophouse but in his own skin. He doesn’t need to be around anyone, but he much enjoys the company when it is offered to him. In this sense Doc appreciates the comradeship more from his experience of living by himself and being at peace.
The art of enjoying one’s self is expressed repeatedly in Cannery Row. The inclusion of all the partying and drinking in Steinbeck’s books is akin to that of Hemingway’s work inasmuch it can been seen that drinking is either related to having a great time or depression in life (Mullaney 44) . Steinbeck chooses the former consequence when he alludes to drinking being associated with the enjoyment of one’s company. In Cannery Row the characters often drink, but they do not drink themselves to the point of intoxication. Their good will towards preserving the human mind indicates that they still would like to be in complete contact with each other, and that their use of alcohol is to only take the edge off of things, not to black out the world in which their comradeship exists.
Throughout all of the partying, drinking, and comradeship deeply rooted friendships have formed on Cannery Row. Such an exhibition of good wills is more than what it is today. If the communities of now day were transformed into such passionate relationships as they were in the nineteen hundreds the world would be much better. Such a shame it is to lose the era of good feelings, whether or not the feelings were homosexual doesn’t entice a relevant opinion. Feelings towards others should be of acceptance and tolerance, a great expectation is then formed in anticipation of where the joys of friendship will take the next adventure in life.