John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" shows how the people who lived there coped with the hardships brought on by the Great Depression. Steinbeck set his novel in 1930s Cannery Row, California. Canning factories are an integral part of the fish industry, and Steinbeck makes the struggling American economy a vital part of everyone's lives in his novel. It shows how different characters, with different points of view, experience the exact same situation. A cannery is where food is canned and then sent to food stores or markets. Marine biology plays a role in the fish industry because fish and other sea creatures must be caught first when they enter the food canning process. The first cannery built was a salmon cannery in Monterey, California. The first large, successful cannery opened before the Great Depression, in 1908, by the Pacific Fish Company. Over time, improving technology accelerated production in these canneries. Additionally, sardines were popular and in high demand. Wartime production expanded further after the war ended. World War II foreshadowed the revitalization and growth of the fish industry. Cannery workers generally had to work all day, no matter what, and worked under the whistle. There were no scheduled working hours, but working conditions were indeed poor. A crucial part of history that was unfortunately left out was the canneries and their history. Steinbeck probably left this out because he wanted to show the relationships people had at that time rather than inform his readers about the canning industry. Cannery Row is a small part of Monterey. California, where the cannery workers lived. This was considered the "heart" of the city because it was geographical and it was also a middle of paper...... rangers. If there's one good thing about the Great Depression, it's that it brought people closer together than ever before. It also inspires readers to be grateful for what they have in bad situations and appreciate any change for the better. Works Cited1. Steinbeck, John. Row of canneries. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: The Viking Press Inc., 19452. Michelle and Anisa. "The 1930s". Brisas. January 24, 2010.3. Amédéo, Kimberley. “Depression Times – When the going gets tough, the tough stuff begins.” About.com: American economy. January 24, 2010.4. Reinhardt, Claudie. Ganzel, Bill. “Having fun in the middle of the Great Depression.” Living History Farm. 2003. January 24, 2010.5. Michaellan, William. “Favorite books and authors. » Row of canneries. January 24, 2010.6. “Cannery Row in Monterey / Monterey’s Most Complete Destination.” Retrospective - The canneries. 2008. January 24 2010.