How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
What [Lee Chong] did with his money, no one ever knew. Perhaps he didn't get it. Maybe his wealth was entirely in unpaid bills. But he lived well and had the respect of all his neighbors (1.3)
This idea that debt is a kind of currency is an idea that pops up all over Cannery Row. Debt buys you the good will of everyone who owes you, and in a small place like Cannery Row, that's pretty valuable.
Quote #2
Everyone who knew [Doc] was indebted to him. And everyone who thought of him thought next, "I really must do something nice for Doc" (5.4)
If debt is a kind of wealth, you might say that Doc is the richest man in Cannery Row. Oh, sure, we bet he's laughing all the way to the bank.
Quote #3
Mrs. Malloy had been contented until her husband became a landlord and then she began to change. First it was a rug, then a washtub, then a lamp with a colored silk shade. Finally she came into the boiler on her hands and knees one day and she stood up and said a little breathlessly, "Holman's are having a sale of curtains. Real lace curtains and edges of blue and pink—$1.98 a set with curtain rods thrown in" (8.4)
This is a little fable about how having a little extra money makes a woman want to put up curtains in a place with no windows. Women, sheesh! Of course, men would never do anything so silly.
Quote #4
The doctors of Monterey [ . . . ] were running crazy [during the influenza epidemic]. They had more business than they could do among clients who if they didn't pay their bills, at least had the money to pay them. [ . . . ] The medical profession was very busy, and besides, Cannery Row was not considered a very good financial risk (16.3)
What could be further from Doc and Lee Chong's view of "financial risk"? Monterey is "wealthier" than Cannery Row in one sense, but poorer in another. The narrator doesn't explicitly pass judgment, but these doctors don't seem like very good guys, do they? We wouldn't want to show up to their emergency room without our health insurance card, is all we're saying.
Quote #5
Doc turned away. "You take the bounty," he said. "I don't want it." He started toward the car. Only the tiniest piping of the flute sounded in his head (18.24)
Doc could probably use the money from the bounty, so we're really wondering why he didn't take it? Maybe it would ruin the mood—Doc did seem pretty taken with the girl.
Quote #6
Everyone in town was more or less affected by the skater. Trade fell off out of sight of him and got better the nearer you came to Holman's. Mack and the boys went up and looked for a moment and then went back to the Palace. They couldn't see that it made much sense.
We have no idea what it is about the skater that makes people want to open their wallets, but whatever it is, it's significant. And Mack and the boys are immune to it. They're not interested in making money or spending it on anything but whiskey and groceries, so obviously they're not interested in some guy skating around a flagpole, either.
Quote #7
Mack had him. Lee was indebted to Doc—deeply indebted. What Lee was having trouble comprehending was how his indebtedness to Doc made it necessary that he give credit to Mack (20.12)
It's starting to become clear that Doc is the foundation of this whole system of debt and credit. But is there anyone that Doc is in debt to? Well, not exactly. He even funds his own party. But in some way, isn't he grateful to the people of Cannery Row for their friendship?
Quote #8
Also being illegal Dora must be especially philanthropic. Everyone puts the bite on her. If the police give a dance for their pension fund and everyone else gives a dollar, Dora has to give fifty dollars. [ . . . ] Dora's unsung, unpublicized, shameless dirty wages of sin lead the list of donations (3.3)
Talk about indebtedness: if Dora's brothel went out of business, it looks like the cops wouldn't have a pension. Dora's illegal business just might be one of the things keeping Monterey afloat.
Quote #9
Canned peaches were sky high, eight frogs for a No. 2 can. Lee had a stranglehold on the consumers. He was pretty sure that the Thrift Market or Holman's would not approve of this new monetary system. [ . . . ] The poison of greed was already creeping into the innocent and laudable merchandising agreement. Bitterness was piling up. But in Lee's packing case the frogs were piling up too (20.18)
This scene is kind of a low point for Lee Chong, because he's taking advantage of Mack and the boys, who don't have much more than a few frogs to their names. Greediness is going to upset the balance of debt—until Chong forgives the entire balance.
Quote #10
Financial bitterness could not eat too deeply into Mack and the boys, for they were not mercantile men. They did not measure their joys in goods sold, their egos in bank balances, nor their loves in what they cost (20.19)
For 100 points, how does Steinbeck feel about "mercantile men"? Too easy? Okay, let's complicate it: sure, they're not mercantile men. They just steal from mercantile men. Hmm, not sounding so philosophical now, is it?