Rough Draft - Dubious Battle

Sheila Scharff

Mrs. Knapp

English 1B

In Dubious Battle

Rough Draft

In his novel in Dubious Battle, John Steinbeck tries to show how a strike was common in the 1930s as the Great Depression continued and working men found themselves either without a job, or was so desperate for a job they did not care if the pay was low. Men and their families would travel from place to place if they heard there was a good job available. When they got there they soon found out that the farm owners reduced the pay. Due to low wages the men could not support their families, but what could they do? Steinbeck’s story follows two main characters, depicted by Steinbeck as labor leaders, through an apple pickers’ strike. The Communist Party sends Mac McLeod, a veteran Communist Party worker, to start up a revolt against the proprietors in order to gain a higher wage and justice for the working class. Mac heads to Torgas Valley, California, along with him he brings Jim Nolan. Nolan who had a father killed in a riot, a mother who died, and a sister that was missing is a new recruit in the Communist Party. He wants to do something that will give his life meaning and being included in the Communist Party just might help him in finding his purpose in life. Together with Mac, a "red", they work together to rival up the pickers and lead them to strike against the Growers Association. Mac shows Jim some tricks and how to use things to benefit them in gathering the men together to form a strike. They are able to use their power and influence towards the other characters throughout this novel. There were events that occurred to help lay the foundation for the men towards the cause, the picker’s death with unsafe equipment, low wages, and horrid conditions, and the power struggle between the owners and workers.

                When Mac and Jim arrive in Torgas Valley, Mac seeks opportunities to gain the worker’s trust and at the same time teaches Jim how to do so. Mac was able to take that first step in gaining trust by helping a young woman, Lisa, give birth to her child. Together Mac and Jim were able to unite the men in a common cause, the birth of a child. For example Mac says “Every man who gave part of his clothes felt that the work was his own. They all feel responsible for that baby.” (95) This is a very important scene in the book. This was the first action taken in laying the foundation for their plan to strike and gain justice. The men feeling as if they were a part of the birth, learned how to work as a team. This helped Mac and Jim gain their respect and trust by the men and most importantly the men’s leader London, the pregnant girl’s father-in-law.

Laying the foundation for these two labor leaders did start with London’s daughter-in-law but that was only one event. Shortly after another opportunity came forth. As Mac and Jim worked in the apple orchard with the other pickers Jim met Old Dan, a veteran picker. As Mac and Jim kept their eyes and ears open for anything that can get the strike going. Jim starts talking to Old Dan. Mac tells Jim that Old Dan is a waste of time and worthless towards the cause. The next day Old Dan falls of a faulty ladder and breaks his hip. This caused a man to say, “The ladder, and old ladder!” (106). Mac quickly sees again another opportunity and tells the men that they deserve better equipment. As fear grows within the men, they realize that they need to take action to avoid ending up like the old picker with a broken hip. Mac soon realized by saying “The old buzzard was worth something after all.” (107) Old Dan became the symbol for the strikers when he fell. This was the beginning of the strike and when Old Dan became a symbol to the other men.

Though Torgas Valley was in the grasp of the Growers Association and the workers were at their mercy there was a struggle for power between the owners and the workers. The owners were known to effectively use communism. It was not easy for the pickers to organize and strike for higher wages and better living conditions, but they could no longer live like they were. In the article, In Dubious Battle, by James D. Hart and Phillip W. Leininger, they say that when the strike begins, Mac advises London concerning methods and finds a camping place for the 1000 strikers on the farm of Anderson's father, Al, a small farm owner who is very proud of his dogs. Mac summons Dick, a “pretty boy” party member in charge of soliciting party sympathizers for donations and who provides supplies. Dr. Burton, a “fellow traveler,” was brought into the camp to take charge of sanitation. The orchardists unsuccessfully attempts to bribe and intimidate London and his fellow chairman and leader of the pickers at the Hunter place, Dakin, but the morale of the strikers is maintained.

With the strike in full force there were many times in the book that you would think that the strike was doomed and the cause looked like a failed mission. There were distractions that caused the men to continuously reunite such as when the men were being stood off at the train station by the cops, Joy, another party member, was shot by a vigilante. Joy’s death was used by Mac to help get the men to feel hunger and anger towards what they are trying to achieve. With this, Joy’s death was used to fuel the fire. Mac says, “For every man they kill ten new ones come over to us.”  (p. 333). Mac explains that it is necessary that they use the Joy’s corpse, for it can create a sense of sympathy in the strikers. With sympathy comes a call for revenge that will lead to the desirable tool to put life back into the group which will bring the men together. This clearly is another way to get the men riled up for the cause. Throughout this novel Mac and Jim emphasize constantly that the end justifies whatever means necessary, no matter the cost to individuals.

Mac uses his skills during many events in this book to persuade or take advantage of a situation to help the strike continue. Mac used these advantages during the birth of London’s daughter-in-law’s child, old Dan’s tragic fall of a ladder, and his companion through it all, the death of his party member Joy. All these events were used to both gain the trust and respect to rally the men further into action or to put life back into the group by giving them the desire for revenge.

As conditions grew worse and doubt was seen in the men’s faces they were almost ready to turn on Mac. With no money or any food for the strikers Dick finally managed to scrape up some food for the men. Doc Burton disappears and his absence in attending and caring for the sick and sanitation of the camp grew worse. One night Anderson’s barn burned and ruined his crops that were stored inside. This caused Anderson to call the sheriff to evict the strikers. The following night a boy told Mac and Jim that Doc Burton was wounded in the field. As they rushed to help the Doctor they soon realized it was a trap. Jim was shot and killed. Like Joy, Mac once again stood over the body of his comrade and friend. Mac giving a speech to commemorate the death of Jim, he gathers strength through his loss and pain and speaks of Jim in the abstract. Mac preaches to the men by saying, “This guy didn’t want nothing for himself.” () This was another example of using any means necessary, even the body of a friend to keep forth in a common cause. Jim’s body becomes yet another symbol for the revolution as he did with old Dan and Joy by using them as a symbol to strike for justice.

My own feelings, no matter what system is in place we will always be robbed one way or another. Injustice should be fought against. I have family members and know of friends that have participated in a strike. Sometimes in order to be heard drastic actions need to be taken to make a point. The logistics of a strike was captured very well by Steinbeck such as the manipulation by the media against the strikers, and gathering support by soliciting party members. The power between the owners and the workers both stood their ground. Neither wanted to give in to the other due to it would be a sign of weakness. Taking a risk to give the workers what they wanted would cause the Owners to lose money. If the workers gave in to the owners it would defeat the purpose.  Today we still hear or witness these logistics in a strike. Steinbeck’s view of the life of a working stiff and the sacrifices that were made showed how teamwork and self discipline can achieve a common goal which till this day is still being utilized.