Syntax

Syntax

• “He was beaten. He knew that”(11). 
• “I’ll look after her myself. Epsom salt’ll do the trick. That’s the best thing.”(84).

The brief sentences that are prevalent in this book serve a purpose. Characters in Cannery Row are described more in paragraphs detailing their personalities instead of through the plot. It is true that much can be inferred by their actions, but the narrator’s description of events he deems unnecessary most often consist of short sentences which are terse but get the point across. The narrator peers into Lee Chong’s thoughts, “He was beaten. He knew that”(11). What Lee Chong thinks about the situation is not central to the larger idea that the boys are trying to intimidate their way into the storage building. The author uses longer and more detailed sentences when speaking of this, not Lee Chong. 

Dialogue is treated differently by Steinbeck. Dialogue in short sentence form as spoken by Mack and the boys is characteristically shorter. The boys are not highly educated people, representing the status quo of Cannery Row. The people of the community are not upper class, (those who are are mentioned to live further away) and this can be inferred in the simplistic speech. The dialogue reflects the absolute basics; the boys do not elaborate, instead they say all that needs to be said. The people’s sentences are similar to the narrator’s, however the narrator can, and does elaborate throughout the novel whereas the average citizens speak enough to get their point across. The majority of the in depth details and characterization come from the author’s commentary.