Sweet Thursday
An academic examination of John Steinbeck's 1954 novel, delving into its narrative, characters, and literary context.
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Genesis of the Novel
Literary and Personal Context
Following World War II, John Steinbeck navigated significant personal transitions, including his divorce from Gwyn Conger Steinbeck and his marriage to Elaine Scott. Concurrently, he explored writing for the theater, culminating in the Broadway production of his play Burning Bright. Despite its limited run, this theatrical endeavor influenced his subsequent literary direction.
The Musical Connection
The impetus for Sweet Thursday arose from interest in adapting Steinbeck's earlier novel, Cannery Row, into a Broadway musical. Steinbeck penned Sweet Thursday with a more theatrical sensibility, aiming for a piece amenable to musical adaptation. This intention, coupled with the eventual involvement of Rodgers and Hammerstein after Frank Loesser declined the project, shaped the novel's characterizations and narrative tone, particularly evident in the evolution of the protagonist, Mack.
Narrative Synopsis
Return to Cannery Row
The novel finds Doc, a marine biologist and proprietor of Western Biological Laboratories, returning to a significantly altered Cannery Row after his military service in World War II. His business is in decline, and the familiar landscape of the Row has changed. Mack and his companions continue to reside in the Palace Flophouse, while Lee Chong has sold his general store to Joseph and Mary Rivas.
Fauna's Bear Flag
The local bordello, The Bear Flag Restaurant, is now managed by Fauna, the elder sister of the original owner, Dora Flood. A former mission worker, Fauna maintains the establishment with a unique ambition: to cultivate a list of "gold star" girls—former employees who have successfully married and transitioned out of the profession.
Doc, Suzy, and Hazel's Gambit
Fauna takes in Suzy, a young woman from San Francisco, recognizing she is ill-suited for the life of a prostitute. Fauna orchestrates a plan to pair Suzy with Doc, enlisting Mack and the Boys to facilitate this match. Meanwhile, Hazel, one of Mack's associates, believes he is destined to become President of the United States and, guided by astrological predictions, engineers events, including Doc's injury, to foster a connection between Doc and Suzy. The narrative culminates with Doc and Suzy embarking on a collecting expedition, suggesting a hopeful resolution.
Historical Context & Adaptation
The Musical Endeavor: Pipe Dream
Sweet Thursday was adapted into the 1955 Broadway musical Pipe Dream, a collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein. Despite receiving nine Tony Award nominations, the musical was commercially unsuccessful, marking one of the creative duo's less fortunate ventures. Its critical reception and limited run led Smithsonian Magazine to later classify it among the top ten Broadway flops.
Cinematic Connections
While Sweet Thursday itself was not directly adapted into a major film, its predecessor, Cannery Row, was adapted into a film that incorporated several narrative elements and character arcs present in Sweet Thursday, highlighting the thematic continuity between the works.
Critical Reception
Scholarly Assessment
Contrary to a common perception that the novel was universally panned by critics, Steinbeck biographer Jay Parini notes that a detailed review of contemporary notices indicates that Sweet Thursday received, on balance, a favorable critical response. Many reviewers acknowledged and admired specific aspects of the novel's literary merit and narrative construction.
Key Characters
Doc
A marine biologist operating Western Biological Laboratories, Doc collects and prepares biological specimens. Returning from World War II, he experiences melancholy and loneliness, dedicating himself to research on octopuses. He becomes the object of Fauna's matchmaking scheme involving Suzy.
Suzy
A young woman from San Francisco who arrives in Monterey and briefly works as a prostitute at the Bear Flag Restaurant. Recognizing her unsuitability for the profession, Fauna attempts to guide her towards a different path. Suzy eventually leaves the brothel, finds employment at a diner, and lives in an abandoned boiler, ultimately developing a relationship with Doc.
Mack
The de facto leader of the group of men residing in the Palace Flophouse on Cannery Row. In Sweet Thursday, Mack exhibits a more philosophical and literary disposition compared to his portrayal in Cannery Row, reflecting his character's development, possibly influenced by the novel's theatrical origins.
Hazel
A prominent member of Mack's group, Hazel is characterized by his simple-mindedness yet good heart. He harbors a strong belief, reinforced by astrological readings, that he is destined to become President of the United States. He actively participates in orchestrating events to bring Doc and Suzy together.
Fauna
Dora Flood's sister, Fauna, assumes control of the Bear Flag Restaurant. Similar to her sister, she manages the establishment but possesses a keen interest in astrology and actively seeks to arrange marriages for her employees with notable townspeople.
Joseph and Mary Riva
The Mexican-American owners of the grocery store formerly operated by Lee Chong. Joseph also functions as a labor contractor for undocumented workers and manages his nephew's salsa band, positioning himself as a perceived rival to Doc for Suzy's affections.
Character Inspirations
Doc and Ed Ricketts
The character of Doc is directly modeled after Steinbeck's close friend, Ed Ricketts, a prominent marine biologist and entrepreneur whose life and work significantly influenced Steinbeck's writing, particularly concerning Cannery Row.
Mack and Harold Otis Bicknell
Mack's character is based on Harold Otis "Gabe" Bicknell, a notable resident of Cannery Row. Bicknell's likeness was even featured on the cover of the 1994 paperback edition of the novel, underscoring his connection to the setting and Steinbeck's work.
Fauna and Flora Woods Adams
Fauna Flood, along with her sister Dora from Cannery Row, draws inspiration from Flora Woods Adams, a historical madam whose establishments and life were depicted in several of Steinbeck's works, including Tortilla Flat and East of Eden.
Wide Ida and Edith Luciani
The character of Wide Ida, proprietor of La Ida Cafe, is based on Edith Luciani, a San Francisco prostitute who managed a bordello owned by Flora Woods. While La Ida Cafe is presented as a cafe in Steinbeck's novels, the real establishment it was based on was a brothel.
Musical References
Jazz and Folk Inspirations
The novel has inspired various musical works:
- Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: In 1960, they composed and recorded Suite Thursday, a jazz suite directly inspired by and dedicated to Steinbeck's novel.
- Matt Costa: The singer-songwriter's 2006 song "Sweet Thursday" from the album Songs We Sing alludes to the novel, incorporating elements from other Steinbeck works like Tortilla Flat and The Grapes of Wrath.
Band and Album Naming
The novel's title has resonated within the music industry:
- Sweet Thursday (band): A British supergroup adopted the novel's title for their name.
- tv-2: The Danish rock band named their sixth album, En Dejlig Torsdag (1987), after the Danish translation of the novel's title.
Bibliographic Details
|
First edition representation |
|
| Author | John Steinbeck |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Publication date | June 10, 1954 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Novel (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0-670-68686-7 |
| Preceded by | Cannery Row |
Scholarly References
The following citations are derived from the source material:
- "Books Published Today". The New York Times: 29. June 10, 1954.
- Steinbeck, John (1950). "Burning Bright". ibdb.com. Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- Pomahac, Bruce. "Looking Back at Pipe Dream, the 'Lost' Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical; Based on John Steinbeck novellas, the musical opened on Broadway November 30, 1955". playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- Rhodes, Jesse. "Broadway's Top Ten Musical Flops". smithsonianmag.com. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- Parini, Jay (1995). John Steinbeck: A Biography. New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 376. ISBN 0-8050-1673-2.
- "Ed Ricketts and the 'Dream' of Cannery Row: The Legacy of Steinbeck's 'Doc' Endures in Monterey". npr.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- "Harold Otis 'Gabe' Bicknell". SJSU King Library Digital Collection. San Jose State University. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- "The Cannery Row Madam". carmelresidents.org. Carmel Residents Association. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- "Housing planned for part of historic Cannery Row building". montereyherald.com. Monterey Herald. March 21, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- Morten & Mikael (November 25, 2021). "Vi Taler Kun Om tv•2, Episode 6: En Dejlig Torsdag". Spreaker (Podcast). Be Bab A Lu La. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
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This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence, synthesizing information from publicly available sources, primarily the Wikipedia article on "Sweet Thursday." It is intended for academic and educational purposes, providing a structured overview for higher education students.
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