Instructor Knapp,
Please help me I have problems using Turnitin.com. I will try later, but I have already sent you an e-mail with my research paper attached.
Thank You.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Semester Reflection
During this semester I learned a lot of things. One of the things that I learned is that there are some critical theories. For example, the Reader Response criticism that describe what happens in the reader’s mind while interpreting a text, and how a reader could relate what he or she reads with his or her own experiences. How the Sociological criticism examines the reading in the cultural, economic, and political context. Another thing that I learned is that I can use compare and contrast, description, cause and effect all together in order to support my argumentation. Also, The TEA part was crucial for me because now I know that if I want to create a good paper there are three basic steps: first, look for the topic. Then, explain (quotations). Finally, write the analysis. I am sure that there is a lot of knowledge waiting for me, but attending your class I could add more of this to my carrier. Thank you very much.
Peer Review Feedback
My classmates’ feedback helped me to improve my research paper. One of them made me to understand that I need to use more transitions and that some paragraphs have two topics instead of one. For this reason, I made the decision to separate the paragraphs in two and focus my analysis on one topic. Also, I discovered that my paper did not have a conclusion that the readers can answer the “so what?” question. Based on the feedback, I am really sure that my paper would be fine making these changes.
Difficulty Paper
Reading In Dubious Battle was very difficult for me because it took me a lot of time to understand the language and the way that the author organized his ideas. Also, the time that this book was written made me think that it would be very difficult to interpret the ideas that the writer wanted to provoke in readers’ minds. However, after re reading many times the book, I could understand the real purpose of the writer. For me, the author wanted to show how a group of poor farm workers suffered for the power of the rich landowners. Furthermore, I could understand many new vocabulary words and their meaning.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Jim's characterization
Jim was a person who wanted to get direction to his life, and he found this working for the Party. Jim had to change his lifestyle because of the Party demanded strict attention. Even though Jim’s entire life was free of responsibility, he decided to sacrifice it for a cause in which he really believed. Mac taught Jim the importance to remaining committed and exercising patient dedication, even in the face of certain defeat. Also, Mac though that the ends always justify the means, and Jim adapted this kind of thinking. At the beginning Jim was a lost person, lack of responsibility, and looking a cause to fight for. However, Jim became, in a certain way, as the growers because now he was decided to die for other’s rights. Growers knew that they had lost hatred, and this is what Jim dissolves as he matures and recognize the power that the united men have in a system.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Rough Draft (Research Paper)
A Sociological Perspective on the ambiguity of the In Dubious Battle
Every person has his or her own way to protest to external pressure and injustice. John Steinbeck, a writer who got the opportunity to examine the social injustices, decided to show his inconformity by writing a book called In Dubious Battle using this as his particular form to protest. In Dubious Battle, published in 1936, shows the importance of two main characters, Mac and Jim, through the process of an apple pickers’ strike in a small town in California. After the crash and depression of 1929, Steinbeck presents us how a group of people united by a common cause decided to fight for their rights after the growers’ association cut their wages to fifteen cents. Most of the story takes place in a fictional town called Torgas Valley, California, where the main economy centers on apple orchards. Furthermore, Steinbeck clearly describes how the workers lived, how small farmers suffered and how some organizations, such as American Communist Party, made some efforts in order to improve life for the poor workers. In Dubious Battle is a master piece that teaches us how communism acts merely as a canvas to paint other abstract themes.
The need to belong to a group is the first theme that appears In Dubious Battle. Steinbeck introduced Jim Nolan as a lonely person claiming that his “whole family has been ruined by the system.” His father was a “sticker in a slaughter house” and “had a reputation for being the toughest mug in the country.” According to Jim, his father fought the system by himself and was killed by a riot gun (6). In addition, Jim’s mother died because “she just did not want to live.” As a result, Jim turned to the party because he was looking for a place to “work towards something.” When Steinbeck wrote the importance that Jim felt to belong, he also showed how Mac used this knowledge to influence strikers. For example, during the birth scene Mac decided to delegate tasks which made the whole camp felt they were involving in the delivery. All people in the camp were working together creating a “current of excitement.” After the woman delivered the baby, Mac burned the used and unused cloth that people had donated. Mac states, “Every man that gave part of his clothes felt that the work was his own. They all feel responsible for that baby. It’s their’s, because something from them went to it. To give back the cloth would have cut them out. There is not better way to make men part of a movement than to have them give something to it” (99). Steinbeck used the “human” side of communism to show how a person who had lost his family had the need to be a member of a group. Furthermore, Jim sacrificed his individual identity when he joined the party because now the cause of the strike was the main objective for him.
Another abstract theme that Steinbeck presents is the power of wealthy people. Even though Steinbeck described migrant workers as “ignorant, dirty people, that they are carriers of disease, and that they increase the necessity for police,” (“The Harvest Gypsies”) he examined the way that migrant workers were living during a period of injustice. For example, Mac explains to Jim, “Now these few guys that own most of the Torgas Valley waited until most of the crop tramps were already there. They spend most of their money getting there, of course. They always do. And then the owner announced their price cut” (26). According to Steinbeck, migrant workers arrived in California in a state of semi-starvation, with the only idea of finding a work at any wage in order to feed the family (“The Harvest Gypsies”). Ironically, the few cents that were cut in wages did not give a big profit for the owners. However, the migrant workers who lived hand to mouth were impacted significantly. Consequently, the workers decided to strike, but the owners considered the farm workers as radicals and utilized any resource to stop them.
As the book advances it starts to be apparent that Steinbeck wanted to show that strike was a little brick to complete a strong wall. Although it is very difficult to control a group, it is the only way to preserve the cause and win. For example, Benjamin Gitlow, one of the founders and early leader of the American Communist movement was first accused in 1919 of violating New York’s old Criminal Anarchy statute of 1902. During his court Mr. Justice Sanford states, “It advocates and urges in fervent language mass action which shall progressively foment industrial disturbance and through political mass strikes and revolutionary mass action overthrow and destroy organized parliamentary government… This is the call of direct incitement” (Mayers). Sanford was trying to provoke the urban working class to fight for their rights, even when he knows that the change would be step by step. In Mac’s case, he was more concerned in pervert the minds of the workers with self-confidence, define their identity and give them a common enemy-the capitalist than whether or not the strike succeed. Mac really knew that without identity and objective, people are lost. He offers this idea to London saying, “If the thing blew up right now it would be worth it… They know how much capital thinks of them and how quick capital would poison ‘them like a bunch of ants… We showed them two things-what they are, an’ what they have to do” (151). It is very important to know who you are and where you are going in order to accomplish any goal. Mac, as Sanford, wanted to spread the infection that is the idea that every worker has rights. Steinbeck clearly shows that even if the strike failed, there was a bigger goal that had been accomplished.
The way that people use symbols to represent a common cause is a theoretical theme used by Steinbeck. At several points in the book it appears that the strike is collapsing all around the pickers. At every one of these critical turning points, something happened that kept the strike going by slightly changing the focus. The workers were distracted by a fight involving London when it seemed that they were about to turn on Mac and Jim. During this fight a vigilante shot Joy. Since the pickers knew Joy only as a face, it became the face of the common workers. As a result, all pickers decided to fight not only for them but for that face. Also, Jim, who was a significant leader, was killed. This fact did not slow anything, yet it put the ball rolling again. Mac used Jim’s death to create another concrete face on the abstract ideas he tried to push. However, this time the workers knew Jim very well and what he stood for. Mac tried to emphasize this by preaching, “This guy want nothing for himself” (269). As Mac used Jim’s death as a symbol, some other leaders of the farm workers also used symbols. One example was the flag that Cesar Chavez, the founder of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, designed to represent his people’s cause. Chavez stated, “A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Azteca eagle. It gives pride” (UFW). Cesar Chavez’s intention was to give a powerful symbol to motivate the farm workers to fight for their rights. The use of symbols gave to Mac and Chavez the opportunity to unit people in a common purpose. It is clear that united people need something that represents their desires and goals. Even today most of the associations that have a collective intention need a symbol that identify them and provokes other to join the group.
Works Cited
Mayers, Marvin. “Gitlow v. New York.”(1969): 295-98. Print
Steinbeck, John, In Dubious Battle. New York: Penguin Books, 2006.Print.
“The Harvest Gypsies”, San Francisco News, Octuber5, 1936.
UFW: The Official Web Page of the United Farm Workers of America: Web. 08 Dec.
2011.
Every person has his or her own way to protest to external pressure and injustice. John Steinbeck, a writer who got the opportunity to examine the social injustices, decided to show his inconformity by writing a book called In Dubious Battle using this as his particular form to protest. In Dubious Battle, published in 1936, shows the importance of two main characters, Mac and Jim, through the process of an apple pickers’ strike in a small town in California. After the crash and depression of 1929, Steinbeck presents us how a group of people united by a common cause decided to fight for their rights after the growers’ association cut their wages to fifteen cents. Most of the story takes place in a fictional town called Torgas Valley, California, where the main economy centers on apple orchards. Furthermore, Steinbeck clearly describes how the workers lived, how small farmers suffered and how some organizations, such as American Communist Party, made some efforts in order to improve life for the poor workers. In Dubious Battle is a master piece that teaches us how communism acts merely as a canvas to paint other abstract themes.
The need to belong to a group is the first theme that appears In Dubious Battle. Steinbeck introduced Jim Nolan as a lonely person claiming that his “whole family has been ruined by the system.” His father was a “sticker in a slaughter house” and “had a reputation for being the toughest mug in the country.” According to Jim, his father fought the system by himself and was killed by a riot gun (6). In addition, Jim’s mother died because “she just did not want to live.” As a result, Jim turned to the party because he was looking for a place to “work towards something.” When Steinbeck wrote the importance that Jim felt to belong, he also showed how Mac used this knowledge to influence strikers. For example, during the birth scene Mac decided to delegate tasks which made the whole camp felt they were involving in the delivery. All people in the camp were working together creating a “current of excitement.” After the woman delivered the baby, Mac burned the used and unused cloth that people had donated. Mac states, “Every man that gave part of his clothes felt that the work was his own. They all feel responsible for that baby. It’s their’s, because something from them went to it. To give back the cloth would have cut them out. There is not better way to make men part of a movement than to have them give something to it” (99). Steinbeck used the “human” side of communism to show how a person who had lost his family had the need to be a member of a group. Furthermore, Jim sacrificed his individual identity when he joined the party because now the cause of the strike was the main objective for him.
Another abstract theme that Steinbeck presents is the power of wealthy people. Even though Steinbeck described migrant workers as “ignorant, dirty people, that they are carriers of disease, and that they increase the necessity for police,” (“The Harvest Gypsies”) he examined the way that migrant workers were living during a period of injustice. For example, Mac explains to Jim, “Now these few guys that own most of the Torgas Valley waited until most of the crop tramps were already there. They spend most of their money getting there, of course. They always do. And then the owner announced their price cut” (26). According to Steinbeck, migrant workers arrived in California in a state of semi-starvation, with the only idea of finding a work at any wage in order to feed the family (“The Harvest Gypsies”). Ironically, the few cents that were cut in wages did not give a big profit for the owners. However, the migrant workers who lived hand to mouth were impacted significantly. Consequently, the workers decided to strike, but the owners considered the farm workers as radicals and utilized any resource to stop them.
As the book advances it starts to be apparent that Steinbeck wanted to show that strike was a little brick to complete a strong wall. Although it is very difficult to control a group, it is the only way to preserve the cause and win. For example, Benjamin Gitlow, one of the founders and early leader of the American Communist movement was first accused in 1919 of violating New York’s old Criminal Anarchy statute of 1902. During his court Mr. Justice Sanford states, “It advocates and urges in fervent language mass action which shall progressively foment industrial disturbance and through political mass strikes and revolutionary mass action overthrow and destroy organized parliamentary government… This is the call of direct incitement” (Mayers). Sanford was trying to provoke the urban working class to fight for their rights, even when he knows that the change would be step by step. In Mac’s case, he was more concerned in pervert the minds of the workers with self-confidence, define their identity and give them a common enemy-the capitalist than whether or not the strike succeed. Mac really knew that without identity and objective, people are lost. He offers this idea to London saying, “If the thing blew up right now it would be worth it… They know how much capital thinks of them and how quick capital would poison ‘them like a bunch of ants… We showed them two things-what they are, an’ what they have to do” (151). It is very important to know who you are and where you are going in order to accomplish any goal. Mac, as Sanford, wanted to spread the infection that is the idea that every worker has rights. Steinbeck clearly shows that even if the strike failed, there was a bigger goal that had been accomplished.
The way that people use symbols to represent a common cause is a theoretical theme used by Steinbeck. At several points in the book it appears that the strike is collapsing all around the pickers. At every one of these critical turning points, something happened that kept the strike going by slightly changing the focus. The workers were distracted by a fight involving London when it seemed that they were about to turn on Mac and Jim. During this fight a vigilante shot Joy. Since the pickers knew Joy only as a face, it became the face of the common workers. As a result, all pickers decided to fight not only for them but for that face. Also, Jim, who was a significant leader, was killed. This fact did not slow anything, yet it put the ball rolling again. Mac used Jim’s death to create another concrete face on the abstract ideas he tried to push. However, this time the workers knew Jim very well and what he stood for. Mac tried to emphasize this by preaching, “This guy want nothing for himself” (269). As Mac used Jim’s death as a symbol, some other leaders of the farm workers also used symbols. One example was the flag that Cesar Chavez, the founder of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, designed to represent his people’s cause. Chavez stated, “A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Azteca eagle. It gives pride” (UFW). Cesar Chavez’s intention was to give a powerful symbol to motivate the farm workers to fight for their rights. The use of symbols gave to Mac and Chavez the opportunity to unit people in a common purpose. It is clear that united people need something that represents their desires and goals. Even today most of the associations that have a collective intention need a symbol that identify them and provokes other to join the group.
Works Cited
Mayers, Marvin. “Gitlow v. New York.”(1969): 295-98. Print
Steinbeck, John, In Dubious Battle. New York: Penguin Books, 2006.Print.
“The Harvest Gypsies”, San Francisco News, Octuber5, 1936.
UFW: The Official Web Page of the United Farm Workers of America: Web. 08 Dec.
2011.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Reader Response to In Dubious Battle
Reading In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck, I could discover a man who was trying to share his idea of fighting together in order to accomplish a common goal. One of the main characters, Jim Nolan, decided to leave the room where he was living to join a Communist Party. In addition Mac accepted Nolan to agitate the pickers and incite them to the strike after pickers’ wages were cut to fifteen cents. Most of the scenes in the book take place in California in a small fictional town called Torgas Valley. Steinbeck shows the struggle that migrant workers suffered to survive with health and dignity after the oppression of the high class. This part of the book made me remember my grandfather who came to the United States many years ago, and he was part of the pickers in Bakersfield, California. He used to talk with my family about the long hours that he spent picking strawberries, and how he strongly believed in the union. As my grandfather said, “If people are not united, there will not be any good result. Also, if you want to accomplish something, you have to establish the group’s identity and show it to all people.”
According to my grandfather, in the past, there was not medical coverage or compensation for work lost due to illness. Also, Steinbeck wrote about this in great detail using the description of the characters and the dialogues between them. For example Steinbeck wrote, “You might think I am a crazy old coot; them other things was planned; nothing come of’em; but I got feelings in my skin”(52). I think that for some Americans it could be very difficult to understand Steinbeck because he clearly is against the Communism, but I believe that this was Steinbeck’s way to show how the farmers were exploited during the Great Depression. Even though prejudice and exploitation existed many years ago, today many farmers are still fighting for their rights.
According to my grandfather, in the past, there was not medical coverage or compensation for work lost due to illness. Also, Steinbeck wrote about this in great detail using the description of the characters and the dialogues between them. For example Steinbeck wrote, “You might think I am a crazy old coot; them other things was planned; nothing come of’em; but I got feelings in my skin”(52). I think that for some Americans it could be very difficult to understand Steinbeck because he clearly is against the Communism, but I believe that this was Steinbeck’s way to show how the farmers were exploited during the Great Depression. Even though prejudice and exploitation existed many years ago, today many farmers are still fighting for their rights.
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