Doc is a light hearted and kind resident of Cannery Row. Through setting priorities of hard work and helping others he has changed the lives of a countless amount of citizens in Monterey. Although Doc is a bright man this doesn't erase his internal dilemmas. When Doc is alone he is different. Suffering from depression and alcoholism Doc leads a lonely life of white lies and misfortune, triggered by the tragedy of a lost love. Dumping himself in work Doc tries to escape the pain, putting on a happy face for Cannery Row while living a life of sorrow.
As night falls on Cannery Row actuality and fear overwhelms the souls as they lay awake. All people including those in Cannery Row use something or someone to compensate …show more content…
Over the years Doc has become prone to throw white lies, becoming somewhat of a master in deception. Maybe with lack of trust or embarrassment Doc lies to cover his identity. While Doc takes a trip to La Jolla he ponders what a Beer milkshake might taste like, and after finally mustering up enough courage to order Doc reassures the waitress by saying, “I’m supposed to drink a beer milk shake. Doctors orders…It’s not so bad when you get used to it,…Ive been drinking it for seventeen years”(102). This is significant not for the drink but for the lies that lead to it. To provide credibility Doc claims that he must drink the beer milkshake. Whats surprising is how casual and real this lie came about, an indication on Doc’s moral health. Without a sense of trust in the world Doc has become accustomed to bending the truth. He bends words to hide his true figure, altering himself for the better. Also seen while Doc explains his cross-country exhibition, instead of telling the truth that he is walking just to walk, Doc decides that it is easier to say it was a “bet”. Of course many people liked him more because of this lie, but really the only thing that matters is how it affected Doc. He is crushed by life and its adversity, pondering if his falsity could ever be true. After so many small and inappropriate lies Doc is brittle in morality, finding it difficult to distinguish fallacy from