Rough draft

As far as my paper goes, i plan on exploring the characterizations of the two protagonists Jim and Mac. To make things interesting i will use my first impressions of them. Jim i looked down upon because he was an out of luck, poor, lost individual with no family, job, or future. I originally saw mac as a strong leader and i admired him for that. however, as the novel progressed, my opinions of them sort of switched. Jim transformed himself into the leader and took over for mac after mac lost control of himself. I despised mac for his tendency to dehumanize people as well as take advantage of any opportunity which presented itself to him. their psychologies fascinate me.

so here is my RD

Butron, Mariah

English 1B

December 4, 2011

Rough Draft

First impressions

           

            In American society, we acknowledge that we should never judge a new person from the first impression. Yet according to a study done by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov, everyone makes their first judgments of a new acquaintance in the first 1/10 a second of meeting them. But first impressions are often the wrong impressions. This holds true for the characters in John Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle. Jim Nolan and Mac McLeod are highly different individuals who come together to fight the same cause. Yet, when the reader is first introduced to them, Mac comes off as a strong leader and Jim is depicted as a lost individual looking for his place in life. From this information, the impression of these characters has already been made. However, as the characters develop throughout the novel, they take on new light and the first impressions made are subject to change.

            Jim Nolan is the first character the reader is introduced to. He is seen leaving his apartment and bidding his landlady, Mrs. Meer, a farewell. It is evident Jim has no real ties to anywhere or anyone. Upon meeting party members, he reveals his reasons for joining the party. “‘In the jail there were some Party men. They talked to me…they were working toward something. I want to work toward something… I thought I might get alive again” (8). His father was beaten to death, his mother died while he was in prison, and his sister vanished from his life without a trace. Jim Nolan’s unfortunate circumstances contribute to his loss of identity; yet fuel his need to be part of a cause. Upon reading his background I was filled with a sense of pity for Jim. He was like a lost child, unsure of himself yet striving for something more. Despite first looking down on him, I did appreciate the fact he chose to strive for more than his desperate situation.

            Though immature and impressionable, Jim’s character is admirable because he chose to turn his life in a positive direction by looking for a cause. Knowing someone in a similar situation to Jim, I can honestly say that turning ones life around is not easily done. It is hard to find the motivation. My best friend growing up was Elisa Jessen. She had no father, her mother was in jail, and her sister was absent from her life. But unlike Jim Nolan, she allowed her problems to take control of her. At a time in her life where she should be a sophomore in college, have a part-time job, and entering the adult world, she remains to be at home while smoking large quantities of marijuana. In addition to this, she chain smokes cigarettes, drinks regularly and subjects herself to a crowd of friends that promote these self-destructive behaviors.

Elisa today is a far cry from the joyful child I met in elementary school. I acknowledge that the circumstances in her life attributed to her downfall, yet there comes a point in everyone’s life where he or she can better himself or herself, or he or she can continue on the path that was chosen for them. Jim Nolan chose to better himself by finding a cause. If Elisa Jessen had done this very thing, I believe she would have a brighter future. Unfortunately for my dear friend, her choices are molding her life into an unhealthy and short existence. Jim was able to avoid this downfall, and for that I hold respect for him.

            Shortly after Steinbeck introduces Jim Nolan, the secondary character, Mac Mcleod comes to the scene. He holds a very influential role within the party’s ranks. Harry Nelson introduced Jim to Mac and explains, “he knows more about field work than anybody in the state” (14). This statement suggests Mac is passionate and knowledgeable regarding the cause. From that moment, it was evident that Mac was going to be Jims mentor.

            Because Mac essentially took Jim under his wing, I was drawn to Macs character. The dynamics of Jim and Macs early relationship reminds me of my relationship with Elisa. Because of her self-destructive tendencies, I cannot help but watch over her. If she needs a place to sleep, I provide it. If she needs a crying shoulder, I offer mine. She is my oldest friend and I do not want to lose her to her depression. I have made countless attempts to find her the professional help she needs so that she can better her life, yet it is impossible to aid someone who doesn’t want the help. In a sense, I envied Mac because he was not only capable of helping Jim, Jim was willing to accept the help. Yet Mac’s seemingly admirable demeanor was subject to change.

            There is one scene in particular which is the perfect embodiment of Mac’s true character. This scene occurs when Mac and Jim join a workers camp. Here, the hear word that a young woman is due to deliver her first child within moments of their arrival. Undisclosed to the two men is that fact that this girl happens to be the daughter on law of the groups unofficial leader, London. Seeing this moment as an ideal opportunity to gain London’s trust, and unite the men, Mac falsely claims to have experience in the child delivery field. He deceives everyone in the situation, including Jim, by impersonating a doctor.

            Mac is an opportunist who disregards human life as long as it helps the Party’s cause. London’s daughter-in-law, Lisa, was nothing more than a tool to Mac. Upon revealing to Jim the truth about his lack of any medical experience, he distastefully admits “’…it as nice to help the girl, but hell, even if it killed her—we’ve got to use anything’” (48). At this point I found myself sickened by Mac’s actions. He dehumanized this poor woman and used her misfortunate situation to benefit his cause. The fact that he was willing to sacrifice an innocent life without a moment’s hesitation is reason enough to alter my perception of his character.

            Despite his more than questionable methods for advancing the Party, Mac is highly successful. According to the center for Steinbeck studies, the desire for collective action can be used for either great good or great evil.  His leadership during the delivery scene was never intended to help poor Lisa, it was meant to rally the men together as a unit. As he ordered the men to work together, the atmosphere around the camp changed. “The apathy was gone from the men, sleepers were awakened and told, and added themselves to the group. A current excitement filled the jungle, but a kind of joyful excitement” (46). Though the results of the men working together did help safely deliver Lisa’s innocent child into the world, it was done with the wrong  intentions. Because Mac did not care whether or not the girl and her baby died, the delivery scene left a very negative impression upon me, the reader.

In addition to Mac’s selfish opportunistic ways, he also proves to be ill tempered. We first see this when he is discussing his hatred for soldiers with Jim shortly after their first meeting. “I don’t like the ex-soldiers with gold hats. They were good, honest, stupid cattle.” The tone in Macs voice is severe which embarrasses him. “I got hot, didn’t I, Jim?” (21). When Mac gets ‘hot’ he is no longer in control of his actions. Later in the novel, Mac loses his composure with Jim after Jim questions his decision to let Sam go. “You’re lucky I don’t knock your can off, not because you’re wrong but because you’re right…I know I get mad; I cant help it” (208). He insults Jim despite knowing Jim’s stance on the matter is correct. Mac’s reaction further instills a sense of disappointment with his character.

Like Mac’s character, my perspective of Jim’s character also altered, and this has everything to do with Mac. Mac’s tendency to be highly manipulative, dehumanizing and opportunistic rubbed off on Jim in the most negative of ways. Mac successfully took Jims naïve personality, and morphed it into a stronger reflection of him. This was most evident when Mac’s temper drives him to beat a boy within an inch of his life. Mac goes on to say “‘I couldn’t of done it if you weren’t here, Jim.  Oh Jesus, you’re hard-boiled. You just looked. You didn’t give a damn.’” (279). Mac infected Jim with his lack of humanity. Now Jim possesses the ability to dehumanize people as well. When asked if he cared about the kid, make replied, “No, he’s not a kid, he’s an example” (278). From a lost down-on-his-luck man to an opportunistic leader, Mac transformed Jim.

First impressions seldom show people in their true light. John Steinbeck’s protagonists, Mac and Jim, were no exception to this. Jim held himself in a very sheep-like manner at the novels opening. He had no ties to anyone, and left his heart and mind completely open to the ways of the Party.  His open mentality gave Mac the opportunity to infect Jim’s once naïve nature with his own deceiving attributes. By the novels conclusion, Mac’s leadership diminished while Jim assumed Mac’s former position. This role switch concludes that my first impressions of Mac and Jim were not accurate readings of the two.