In Dubious Battle

Someone recommended Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle to us at the blog a few years ago, perhaps in 2018. Now, after three years, we finally read the novel and cannot even recall why exactly it was recommended. Perhaps due to our interest in Georges Sorel, labor radicalism, communism, and anarchism during the years of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Regardless of the uncertain reasons why it was suggested reading for us, it was a worthwhile read. Steinbeck's short novel about a doomed strike and the ways in which their dubious battle harms all parties remains a timeless tale of the deeply unequal American society of the 1930s. And despite the casual racism and, as expected, problematic gender roles of these working stiffs and the Communist agitators Jim and Mac, there is a charming quality to these beaten and downtrodden working fruit pickers in the fictional Torgas Valley. 

The novel also brings to mind our experience with the nefarious ways of various incarnations of communists who believe the ends justifies the means. And we see some truly reprenhensible behavior from Mac and Jim, True Believers who want to use the strike to agitate and push their socialist vision, even as they know the strike will fail. Steinbeck faced criticism for his depiction of the Party in this novel, but to us at the blog it rings true of so many types encountered in today's world. Sure, let's hope they don't assault high school children like Mac, and their heart is in the right place. 

But one cannot help but feel that Doc Burton is the most compelling character in the novel. He rightly calls to question the difference between group-man and individuals, and need for something besides blood to motivate the crowd (or, mob). Burton can see the totality of the problem, whereas Mac and Jim are so obsessed by their ideology and the requirement of "blood" for motivating the strikers to continue their doomed struggle against the Growers. Perhaps, like Sorel suggested, the strikers need that sense of heroic sacrifice, violence, and a 'myth' to rally their forces and continue their strike. But Burton serves as a voice of reason, pointing out how the violent tactics and repercussions of the strike will only result in more violence. We here at the blog will continue to ponder the question of the dangers of the crowd, doctrinaire Marxism, and the disastrous outcomes considered in Steinbeck's ouevre.