The document discusses the theme of duality in John Steinbeck's novel Cannery Row. It notes that Steinbeck wrote in the prologue that the inhabitants of Cannery Row could be seen as either "whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches" or "Saints and angels and martyrs and holy men." This duality shows how one's perspective can influence how the same people or events are viewed. The essay goes on to give examples of how characters in the novel exhibit both admirable and disputable behaviors at different times, demonstrating the duality within the characters and town itself.