As night falls on Cannery Row, current affairs and fear overwhelm souls as they lie awake at night. At this precise moment they are alone to think, to reflect on their existence, on their importance, on their meaning. During the day the things the people of Cannery Row use to fill their emptiness. To give them happiness is no longer there and for those long hours of the night they are truly alone. The cats, parties and companions are gone for just a second. But they return in the morning to soothe the tired and broken spirits of the people of Cannery Row. Each of us, just like the people of Cannery Row, uses something or someone to compensate for the loneliness in our lives. Money, relationships, and personal struggles are evident and bring loneliness to people who work in the canning industry. They bring loneliness to everyone, not just the people of Cannery Row. Cannery Row is not a fantasy or a dream because we can all learn something from each person in this story. Their lives can be a reflection of our lives. We can't talk to cats or hang curtains in a room without windows. But we share something with these people. And if we sympathize with these people it is because we feel we can relate in some way. All of us as human beings on this earth use something to nourish loneliness in our lives. Without these certain things we would feel neglected, distressed and out of place. Cannery Row is full of misfits who simply don't belong in what you would call normal society. But they all seem to come together and blend into this one place where they can belong. In Cannery Row people go at their own pace. They go wherever they want. They do what they want and say what needs to be said. The freedom to be different and eccentric is something... in the middle of paper... in the people there. Some were able to combat loneliness and had things to fill the voids with, such as friends, spouses, and even parties. While others have never found true contentment. In Cannery Row John Steinbeck clearly emphasized the importance of friendship and community. He illustrated the work together. And also the importance of needs such as physiological, safety, love/belonging and esteem. Ultimately, the people of Cannery Row truly care about each other. And although they sometimes feel lonely when they get together, their loneliness immediately diminishes. Works Cited Hayashi, Tetsumaro. A new guide to the study of Steinbeck's major works, with critical explanations. Scarecrow Press, January 1, 1993 Steinbeck, John. Row of canneries. 1945. New York: Penguin Books, 1994. Print.