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. 

What I have Learned

This class has exposed me to many interesting works. Each piece has taught me much about the world we live in. for example, Persepolis by Marjane Strape revealed the horrors of the islamic regime from the perspective of a young child. This graphic novel had such an impact on my perspective of iraq, but i never would have discovered it if it wasnt for this class. I also learned much about our own local history through John Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle. Though this novel is fiction, it still opened my mind to San Jose history as well as the farm works movement. through reading this book, i was better able to understand the various movements that are occurring today, such as the occupy wallstreet movement. everything we covered in this class has been relevant to todays society.
in addition to that, my writing abilities have expanded. throughout school, i have been taught never to use my personal experiences as evidence within a paper. but because i am a college student taking higher levels of writing, i now know it is acceptable to add in my experiences. this is called reader response, and i enjoy writing in this style. i now will use my this reader response theory as a tool to improve papers if it is appropriate.
This class has left a positive impression on my life. through the works we covered, and the different critical theories we learned, i have improved myself as a writer, and as a person.

Jim's Character

Thoughout John Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle, Jim Nolan undergoes a major change in his character. at the beginning of the novel, Jim is introduced to us as a lost individual looking for a purpose. His father was beaten to death, his mother died while Jim was in jail, and his sister vanished without a trace. Jim's lack of family left him with nowhere to turn to. in addition to this, he is broke. It while Jim was in jail that he realized he wanted something more to do with his life. His father was a member of 'The Party' and while Jim was in jail, he talked to members of the party. However, it doesnt join because of the cause, he just wants to be a part of something.
it isnt until later where we see Jim adopt the red parties ideals.
now that i am short on time ill just answer it. jim nolan becomes like the growers in his ideas. he wants things to be fair and is willing to fight to get them that way.

DIfficulty

So far, the greatest difficulty presented to me by this book is just finding the time to read it. as ive posted about before, i have a very busy schedule. juggling 6 classes, work, and new found family drama does not leave much time for reading. when i get home from work, around 10 at night, i lay in bed and read until i fall asleep. unfortunately sleep comes quickly after a long day, and i typically only get 3 pages in at a time. the weekends hold the most amount of time. i am very grateful for this three day weekend because i am able to catch up on everything. reading, blogging, and other homeworks are slowly being checked off of my list :D
Other than finding time to read the book, In Dubious Battle is also difficult in context. though the book does take place in San Jose (the city i have lived in for all 19 years of my life) there is a time barrier which makes the city very foreign. It is very hard to imagine San Jose as anything other than a busy city with endless miles of sidewalks and housing. when reading, i picture the book taking place in selma. (a small farming town about 3 hours from san jose) this is easy to do because the book never really says it takes place in SJ.
to get a better understanding for the time period, i often ask my parents and grandma about their younger days, back when orchards were the norm. my family has lived within this cities limits for two generations, so i am very lucky to have primary sources. My grandmother especially has been a big help. she was born in the 30s and witnessed 70 years of local history. hearing her stories has put the books setting into a more realistic perspective. this is largely because i can picture the older generations of my own family dealing with similar circumstances that Jim and Mac are facing.

Reader Response

Out of all the things Mac and Jim have done on their journey so far, one act in particular remains to be the boldest. This is when the pair help deliver London's daughter-in-law's baby. Here, Mac convinces everyone, including Jim, that he is a trained medical professional who is qualified to deliver babies. Mac is so successful with his actions, that he establishes his authority, gains total trust from London, and unifies the men, all in one night. Mac later reveals his lack of education in medicine. he has never had any training and has never participated in a birth before.
Mac proves to be a highly intelligent and tactful individual. he is bold enough to impersonate a doctor, smart enough to execute his plan smoothly, and observant enough to recognize this opportunity in the first place. He tells Jim that it is highly important to take advantage of any opportunity which will promote their party's cause.

UFW Brainstorm

When i think of Farm Workers Rights and US labor Movement, the first person who comes to mind is Cesar Chaves. I did a project on him back in 8th grade, but my knowledge is very limited. i know that he was the leader of the National Farm Workers Association. The United Farm Workers of America was a result of the NFWA being merged with Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.

This image is of the UFW flag. The leaders of the UFW movement wanted to establish colors to go along with the cause. they wanted their symbol to be relatable. Picking the eagle on the mexican flag was the best choice. they then simplified it so it could be reproduced quickly. 

Ongoing struggle  

I think this image represents the ongoing struggle in the US. This person is standing strong, yet has a worn look on his face. The sign he holds reads huelga, with the symbol of UFW above it. Huelga means strike in spanish. this photo has a very desperate and persistent mood to it. it looks as if this protest has been going on for a while. and that certainly reflects the reality of the situation. 

Feedback

The peer editing on Friday really helped me with my paper. As far as revisions go, I'm going to add a few personal experiences to my work. i truly dislike putting my own experiences in a paper. i just find using 'I' and talking about myself in an academic writing to be unprofessional. unless of course the prompt calls for a personal narrative or what not. im only now begging to understand that relating myself to a text really emphasizes my understanding of said text. plus, as a reader, i do enjoy learning about other peoples experiences. so why wouldnt others enjoy reading about mine?
Id like to thank David B. for his suggestions on my paper. little things like making my transitions more smooth really improved my work.