Chapter 23 ; pages 129-132

In your oppinion what position about living a life such as the one Mack and the boys have on Cannery Row.

From the rest of the book, you've learned a lot about Mack and the boys' lifestyle (sharing a common space in the Palace Flophouse), the choices they make (working in the canneries when and if theyb want to or need money), what they value (thier friend ship with Doc), what they show affection for (their puppy Darling ), how they get what they need (bartering with Lee Chong, borrowing or stealing things), and how they get into trouble (drinking too much). IN chapter 2,, Mack and the boys are refferred to as "the Virtues, the Beauties, the Graces" who spin in thier orbits of the cosmic Monterey. And again toward the end of the book, in chapter 27, the author calls them " the virtues, the Beatitudes, the beauties" who" were the stone dropped in the pool, the impluse which sent out ripples to all of cannery Row and beyond, to Pacific Grove, to Monterrey, even over the hill to Carmel." 

In chapter 23, Doc says of mack and the boys,"Look at them . There are your true philosophers." He contrasts them with "our so-called successful men" and gives his opinion that Mack and the boys have the better life. What do you think about the choices these characters have made and the life styles they have choosen? In what ways do thier live contrast with those of other men(and women) in mainstream society who live what appear to be successful and happy lives? What are the disavadvantages of living the way most others do with homes, families, careers, and responiblities? Do you think Doc is right when he says "that Mack nd the boys know everything that has ever happened in the world and possibly everything that will happen "? What does that mean?