A man with a beard was always a little suspect anyway. You couldn't say you wore a beard because you liked a beard. People didn't like you for telling the truth. You had to say you had a scar so you couldn't shave.
In John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row," the portrayal of men with beards suggests an underlying suspicion about their character. A beard serves as a subtle indicator that the person may not easily align with societal norms. The narrative implies that people who exhibit such traits often face skepticism and are not warmly accepted by others, hinting at a disconnect between appearance and social acceptance.
The quote also highlights the idea that society...