In John Steinbeck’s novel, Cannery Row, Steinbeck attempts to display various themes, all the while focusing on bringing the row itself to life. He focuses on expressing his philosophy regarding business, regarding sense of family, regarding the consequences of seemingly harm acts, and regarding how to achieve true happiness. Yet, despite these various goals, Steinbeck manages to fit in rare forms of art. If such art is not his own handwriting, it is that of others. In chapters thirty and thirty two, Steinbeck includes Black Marigolds, a translated extract from the Sanskrit, written by Chauras, a young Kashmiri poet. In both chapters, the poem planes very different roles. While in chapter thirty, the poem acts as a pleasantry for Doc to read to his guest, in chapter thirty two the poem reflects on Cannery Row itself, and the story that Steinbeck has narrated about it. (145 words; 7 sentences)

In chapter thirty, Black Marigolds is simply regarded as an enjoyable reading which Doc recounts aloud to his guest. The poem, in its original form in the Sanskrit, was written by Chauras, a young Kashmiri poet. Imprisoned as a teenager for having a secret affair with the daughter of the Indian

It is understood that Mack and the boys greatly value Doc’s friendship, and so the frogs needed for his party must mean a lot to them. When they go out hunting for the creatures, Mack uses a cunning plot. On page 93, referring to the frogs, Steinbeck narrates,

The excerpt in chapter thirty two, in contrast to that in chapter thirty, bears much more symbolism of events which occurred in novel. In the last stanza of the poem, the situation that Chauras is describing much resembles the one which Doc is feeling. Throughout the book, Doc brings happiness to the people on the row, but he is never completely happy himself. On page 181, Steinbeck’s description of Doc’s inner turmoil before the party certifies that he lacks happiness.

The fact that Doc had been denied happiness is much like Chauras being denied happiness. However, at the party Doc finally lightens up, and for once is truly happy. Chauras states,

“He debated about [playing] the Brandenburg. That would snap him out of the sweet and sickly mood he was getting into. But what was wrong with the sweet and sickly mood? It was rather pleasant. “I can play anything I want”, he said aloud… “I’m a free man”

Just for a small and a forgotten time

The whitest pouring of eternal light –”

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