Eddie Character Analysis in Cannery Row

One of the men that live with Mack and “the boys” in the Palace Flophouse. Like his friends, Eddie doesn’t have a steady job, but he does bartend from time to time at La Ida, where he fills in whenever the full-time barkeep gets sick. When he does this, he brings a jug, into which he pours whatever alcohol people leave in their glasses. This makes a strong, strange concoction that consists of hard alcohol, beer, wine, and various liqueurs. Happy to share his potion, Eddie brings the jug home and splits it with Mack and “the boys.” Because of this, the residents of the Palace Flophouse never ask him to do anything, since they believe he is a “very valuable” person to have around. When Mack and the boys are stranded on the side of the road on their frog-catching expedition, Eddie is the one to venture forth and steal a carburetor to put in the broken-down Model T.

Eddie Character Timeline in Cannery Row

The timeline below shows where the character Eddie appears in Cannery Row. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Loneliness, Melancholy, and Happiness Theme Icon

When Mack, Hazel, Eddie, Hughie, and Jones first move into the Palace Flophouse, they see it as “little more... (full context)

Kindness, Empathy, and Friendship Theme Icon

One day, Mack and “the boys” are lounging and drinking a strong alcoholic mixture that Eddie concocts whenever he fills in for the bartender at La Ida. On these nights, Eddie... (full context)

...the best mechanic, so he does the majority of the work, at one point instructing Eddie to sneak back to his house to steal a car part without being seen by... (full context)

Reality, Randomness, and Disorder Theme Icon

...“the boys” wait for Gay, eventually realizing that he’s not coming back, at which point Eddie leaves to find the necessary car part. (full context)

Eddie returns to “the boys” the next morning carrying a carburetor he stole from another Model... (full context)

Shortly thereafter, the Captain passes out, and Mack asks Eddie to confirm that the man did indeed offer him a jug of whiskey and a... (full context)

...so they return once again to Lee’s store and buy “miles of crepe paper.” Meanwhile, Eddie—who once used to work as a “fry cook”—tries to bake a cake, though it turns... (full context)