"Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping"

John Steinbeck's quote talks to the power of noise and memory. The 4 hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle stimulate a strong psychological action in him, raising the hair on his neck and setting his feet to tapping. This recommends that the noise of the whistle is connected with a powerful memory, likely from his youth. It could be a reminder of a time when he was on a ship, or possibly of an enjoyed one who was a sailor. Whatever the memory, it is clear that the sound of the whistle has a profound impact on him. It is a suggestion of a time passed, and of the feelings that were felt during that time. The noise of the whistle is an effective suggestion of the past, and of the feelings that were felt then.