Cannery Row

by John Steinbeck

Cannery Row: Foil 1 key example

Chapter 24
Explanation and Analysis—Mary and Tom Talbot:

Chapter 24 centers Mary and Tom Talbot, a couple on Cannery Row struggling financially. While Mary loves throwing parties (attended only by cats) and approaches their situation with optimism, Tom has a more cynical view of their circumstances. They act as foils to one another:

Tom said, “Why don’t we face it for once? We’re down. We’re going under. What’s the good of kidding ourselves?”

“No we’re not,” said Mary. “We’re magic people. We always have been. Remember that ten dollars you found in a book—remember when your cousin sent you five dollars? Nothing can happen to us.”