Essay Questions

How does John Steinbeck illustrate the power of mobilization and organization in his book In Dubious Battle?

The amalgamated force of the immigrant workers to push for their rights proves to be more influential and powerful. The organization of the immigrant leaders is led by Doc who proves to be efficient in his strategies which are aimed at fighting for the rights of the burdened immigrants. The landowners are taking advantage of the immigrants to exploit them. Employers do not want to take liability in case their workers get injured while at work. The organization of immigrants led by Doc aims at ensuring that the power of employers is reduced so as to respect the rights of the employees. When Jim joins the political movement of immigrant workers, he realizes that it has the power to mobilize for better treatment of the immigrants. Doc requests all the workers from the neighborhoods to join the labor organization to ensure that they join hands to form a more powerful and influential movement that can push the employers to appreciate their efforts.

Why do you think that the fruit pickers feel that they are treated unfairly and neglected by the landowners?

The author is tactical in bringing out the feelings of the fruit pickers towards their employers. It is evident from the novel that the fruit pickers lack a sense of belonging. The local landowners have ensured that through their actions, the immigrants feel that their purpose is only to serve as workers and nothing else. Therefore, the immigrants feel that they are unwelcome because they are only required to serve their masters without question. The author shows that the issue of belonging is fervently rooted in the migrants. He further shows that immigrants are always reminded that they are outsiders. Since one of the objectives of the fruit picker's organization is to push for fair treatment, many workers are joining at least to have that sense of belonging.

What is the most progressive theme in the novel In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck? Cruelty to the poor is the most progressive theme in the novel.

The workers are portrayed as working machines for the property-owners, the ruling classes, and merchants. Workers have been denied all sorts of employee benefits and they work for more hours without rest with very little pay. The government has no structures and guidelines that prohibit the landowners from mistreating their workers. Similarly, the authorities have not put in place mechanisms that protect the interest of workers. Therefore, workers are oppressed and misused for the benefit of the few.