"In Dubious Battle" by John Steinbeck

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the absolutist political ideology of the labor leader, Jim Nolan, in John Steinbeck's novel, "In Dubious Battle". The paper looks at how at the beginning of the strike, Nolan portrays a leader that rests on stern and unyielding principles to overtake and destroy the tyranny of labor domination by landowners. The paper then points out that this unyielding and uncompromising political view, however, results in the failure of the strike and the death of Nolan. The paper then suggests that Jim Nolan represents a metamorphism of an absolutist political ideology that is unrealistic and eventually ends with the failure of the strike within Steinbeck's novel.

From the Paper:

"The first stage of Jim Nolan's desire to overthrow the cruel and greedy landowners that force him and other to work for brutally low wages is based of his hatred of tyrannical authority. The novel describes the way that Nolan and others had to live in poverty and destitution, which then acts as a catalyst for Nolan's absolutist desire to overthrow the landowners. Steinbeck (1992) relates the foundation for a labor rights when Nolan is questioned about his motives for joining the Union league Club."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Steinbeck, John. In Dubious Battle. New York: Penguin, 1992.

More papers on "In Dubious Battle" by John Steinbeck:

• Analytical Essay # 133884 : "Absolutist Political Ideology in "In Dubious Battle"
• Analytical Essay # 29786 : "In Dubious Battle"

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