Week 13 - Reflections

Hind sight is 20/20. Looking back at this semester, or at least this English class I can see that I tackled it the same way I always seem to tackle English classes. Study up on MLA, read the books I need to while I am behind on the paper I am supposed to be working on, and put of editing my paper till the very last seconds. A few things I have learned that I didnt know before are first, I am a perfectionist. But not the kind that slaves over his work for countless hours fearful that I missed a crucial mistake. Instead I am the procrastinating perfectionist. I dont like the ideas I come up with at first and wait until the pressure is on to make a decision on what topic to use, what thesis to focus on, even the title of my paper. The solution to this? I really thought that talking some of my ideas out and then writing them out immediately really helped me for this final paper. Delving into the story behind the novel really piqued my interest much more than previous research papers. I had so many facts that I couldnt come up with an opinion. I learned that you need the facts before you have an opinion. With that in mind I was able to come up with a pretty good start to this paper if I do say so myself. Besides that, I really enjoyed this class. No matter who I sat next to, I was always able to find a friend in them. Thanks English 1B class. And thank Ms. Knapp for all that you do as a professor. I enjoyed learning about the different critical theories, just as much as I enjoyed the sillier side of class like the Glass Menagerie spin-offs.

Week 12 Rough Draft

Perhaps one of the most prolific writes of our time, John Steinbeck many works provide a very real glimpse into the time in which he wrote. In a brief interview, San Jose State Library John Steinbeck Center curator Peter Nathaniel Malae commented saying, “Steinbeck was such a great author because he was such a great observer.” The truth of that statement can be seen in any of his works and even in those influenced by his work. A literary realist, Steinbeck wrote largely from true events and stories he collected from the many people he would meet. Surprisingly, the man hardly ever drew from his own experiences. He was largely a supporter of worker’s right and fair labor laws and as he lived in the “fertile crescent” of California, he was able to observe much of the changing times. In Dubious Battle was one of the first books he wrote specifically from the view point of men struggling for better wages in fictitious apple orchards in the fictitious Torgas Valley.

            Now it would be easy to assume that In Dubious Battle was written in order to drum up support for the workers he was portraying, but that was not the case. Steinbeck true motive behind the book was to flesh out an idea he has about the way a group acts. In Dubious Battle is not just about two communist organizers fighting for better working conditions, although two actual communist organizers served to be the primary source for his writing. Instead it is a novel about two groups of men pitted against each other. And when you are trying to determine the motives of such men, it becomes a much more abstract theme to handle. Steinbeck wrote in a letter to his friend George Albee “I don’t know how much I have got over, but I have used a small strike in an orchard valley as the symbol of man’s eternal, bitter, warfare with himself. I’m not interested in strike as a means of raising men’s wages, and I am not interested in ranting about justice and oppression, mere outcroppings which indicate the condition. But man hates something in himself. He has been able to defeat every natural obstacle but himself he cannot win over unless he kills every individual. And this self-hate, which goes closely in hand with self-love is what I wrote about. (qtd. in Benson 304)”.

            Steinbeck’s purpose behind this book was more of a personal exploration into the theory of group man. He called it the phalanx theory.

            He drew inspiration from the actual stories of three workers and strike organizers from 1933. The first organizer was a man named Pat Chambers. Mac is loosely based on the events that transpired on the actual peach orchards at Tagus Ranch near the San Joaquin valley. In Dubious Battle mirrors the exact situation the peach pickers were facing in 1933, “insert quote about the scabs traveling down and having the wages adjusted.”  Chamber’s job was to rally the peach pickers and temporarily halt peach picking until the growers increased the wages from fifteen cents an hour to thirty cents an hour. Since peaches spoil quickly if they are not picked the strike moved at a furious pace and was resolved in just four days. The workers won their raise in pay, but only to the tune of twenty-five cents an hour. Although the workers won a small victory, this would only be the fist half of the battle. Many of the farmers were angry at the organization of the workers and ripped up all their peach trees and planted cotton instead. The peach strike turned into the cotton strike and it is from that story than Steinbeck gets the rest of his characters as well as a better understanding of the issue at hand.

            Steinbeck views on the issue at hand can be seen in the way he portrays his character Mac. By no means was Steinbeck trying to chronicle a blow for blow account of one of the many strikes sweeping across the central valley of California. Recall Steinbeck’s stated purpose. He was not looking to bring about change though this novel, or make a statement about any particular group of men as being better or more right than another group of men. Instead he was observing, like Doc Burton, the way group man moves and lives. Because of this In Dubious Battle has no hero. Pat Chambers, the man on who Mac is based, objected to Steinbeck’s portrayal of him in the book. “Quote from Pat” While Chambers may have been more concerned about the individual, Steinbeck was concerned with the group. None of the characters have any particular growth, though they all ponder their place in the bigger picture. In fact, the driving force behind Mac’s strike is the knowledge that even if they fail as an individual strike, their failure gives life to a different strike in a different part of the state. “Insert quote about national guard.” This can also be seen in the way Mac treats others striving towards the same goal as he, “Joy’s Sacrifice.” Indeed Mac is cast by Steinbeck to be a man on a mission, no matter what the cost. 

The actual Jim Nolan.

Jim Nolan, a young and zealous organizer who is just happy to be a part of something bigger than him, but fails when circumstances claim his life,

Doc Burton and Steinbeck.  

Week 10 Difficulty Paper

To be honest there was not too much that I struggled with in this novel. Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors ever and once his stories get going they are impossible to put down. This story to me, is riveting. It always seems as if Steinbeck is a minimalist. We get very few specific details about any one of the characters, most of it is told in flash-back stories. But despite that we still get a great picture of how each man thinks and feels. I suppose the most difficult part for me is to relate to the communist ideals. Not going to lie, I am as Republican as they come. I was taught that Communism was a dangerous idea and that only fools and power hungry men strove after its ideals. It is interesting to me, however, to see Jim Nolan join up because he is looking for purpose in his life. He thinks that if he fight alone then he will always lose, but if he is fighting with others for a common goal even if they lose the fight, he still has more than if he fought alone. Man is not perfect, nor are we always fair, always charitable, always agreeable. Communism seems to operate under the assumption that all those things are not true. I think it is interesting to see Mac manipulate a crowd the way he does. When there is something important to do then sure, everyone works together just fine. But what happens when thats over? When there is no cause to fight for? Mac knows that he has to keep the strikers busy otherwise they turn back into ordinary men.

Screen Play

Central Theme: Move Forward Look toward the future. 

Tom is about to leave and feels conflicted. Anastasia convinces him that he is making the right decision. 

Scene: Very early morning, before sunrise. Clear night, Tom has just left his house to travel to a place far away. He walks up to the boarding plank of the ship and pauses at the foot of the plank. He looks back and forth, nervous almost like someone is following him.

Tom: (pacing back and forth with nervous energy) When's that blasted boat leaving? I got places I need to be!

Anastasia walks on stage, swinging an umbrella and a suitcase, smiling widely. She is a woman of about thirty years. She hears Tom's last sentence.

A: Where do you to have to be, young man?

T: (looks up, startled) Do I know you, ma'am?

Anastasia: No. But you look like you're leaving, same as me. Catching the first boat out of North Carolina huh?

Tom: Yeah... (long pause) 

A: Where are you going?

T: I joined the merchant's association. I guess I'll go wherever they need me. At least it's away from here.

A: What's wrong with staying here?

T: Nothing for me.

A: What about your family?

T: They're back in Tennessee, where the rest of my problems are.

A: You don't look like the type to have problems.

T: Well, I do. And if you knew half of my story, you'd agree.

A: Huh. Does your family know where you are?

T: Not exactly. But by now, they know that I'm gone. 

A: So you're leaving your poor old ma out in the wilderness by herself. Very noble of you.

T: She's not alone. She's got my sister. Not my dad, though. 

A: Hmm....sounds like you do have problems. You think going away is going to help?

T: I don't know...I'm sure they'll be alright... (under his breath) I hope. 

Anastasia sits down next to him, leaning close. Tom leans away nervously.

A: I left home when I was your age. I was the oldest of three and sick of hanging around. Thought I was leaving for something better. I went to New York, New Orleans and Chicago. Had me a fine time of it, champagne, pretty clothes and lots of men to keep me company. Decided to go home a few years ago, and when I got back, my brother and sister had married, had kids, and my ma and pa were dead. My nephews and neices didn't even know me. I'd missed it all.

T: I'm sorry to hear that.

A: I'm sure you are. But I'm not looking for pity.  Now I'm not gonna get into a contest with you about who's had the worst time of it, but if you feel like leaving the best thing for you, I guess you should go on and make your own way.

T: Thank you! My sister and mother don't understand. I have to go! I need to support myself without worrying about them. They were just dragging me down, all the time, trying to take care of them, support them. I don't want that for the rest of my life. 

A: Well, you can put all the distance between you and your mother and sister that you want, all the oceans in the world, as far the Merchant's Assiocation will take you. But they're still gonna be your family, for all your leaving.  

Tom looks down dejectedly. 

T: I know. But I feel like I should. (getting angry) Who are you to tell me what to do anyways? I don't even know you. This is my life, I'll live how I want. 

A: I'm not saying you gotta go back. I'm saying, don't forget. You and me, we're cut from the same cloth. We both left, looking for something better. Wherever you go, young sir, I hope you find what you're looking for.

T: That's just it--I don't know! 

Foghorn sounds from behind them.

A: Sounds like that's your boat.

T: Yeah, it is.

A: You gonna leave?

Long pause. Tom looks down and then back up to Anastasia. 

T: Yeah, I'm gonna leave. Find what I'm looking for.

A: Then I wish you all the luck in the world. And remember--don't forget.

Anastasia gets up and leaves Tom alone. He looks up at the boat and slowly begins to board. 

Week 3: Reading Habits

I wanted to have a quick introspective look at my reading habits because time after time, English class after English class, staying consistent with my reading has been the bane of my grades. If you scroll down the page a little, you can read about how much I love math. The feeling of tackling problems one at a time is a comfort I find in it. I find that I try and read the same way. I tend to read large chunks of material all at once. I am a fairly quick reader but I am plagued with a fairly short attention span. Even as I am writing this I have stopped and started again at least 3 times now and I am only one fifth of the way finished. Okay I am not going to lie, I was in the process of writing this blog on a Microsoft Word document so I could be aware of the word count and just as I was about the copy and paste it here, I deleted it. So now I am back again trying to recapture the spirit of the tangent I was typing so furiously about just a few seconds ago. Right, reading habits... I usually find that the best time for me to do this "binge" reading of mine is in the early afternoon. If I try and read too early or too late, then I absorb little to none of the information in the text. The only downside to reading the most efficiently at that time, is that there are usually so many other things I would rather be doing at about 1:00 in the afternoon. Moving right along, I have also found that the best place for me to do my reading is actually in the school library. As long as I can score a seat that is not in a cubicle, the chairs can be quite comfy and perfectly suited for reading. Something tells me that's probably intentional.

Arab Spring

      I suppose I should start by explaining what "Arab Spring" is. I don't know if maybe I am just particularly unaware of world happenings, but I just learned that "Arab Spring" is not a time of year. Arab Spring is a movement working its way across the Arab world. They involve strikes, demonstrations, marches, and rallies, not unlike the type of protests we have seen in Persepolis. The article I read in the New York Times, dealt with the ramifications of Arab Spring on immigrants moving into Arab economic centers like Dubai and Bahrain. The article focused in on an Indian family that had been working out of Dubai since the 1920's. Although the family is originally from India, because they have been working in Dubai for so long, the local government granted them "land grants for schools, a prayer space for their community to assemble and the privilege of owning their own businesses without a mandatory local business partner, otherwise possible only within dedicated economic free zones" (Bharadwaj 2). What this means, is the the local government has granted these immigrants special community privileges based only on goodwill. The Arab Spring movement threatens these business people because if the government goes though large reforms and changes, that will certainly affect the local economy and may leave no room for the immigrant established local businesses.

Back again the night before the next class. I know I need a few more things about myself to hit that 500 word mark. Well I think I want to take a moment to talk about some things I have been learning about myself the past few weeks. I have learned that I have a real passion for helping kids younger than me. I think that's what makes me want to become a high school teacher. I just really like the idea of helping a student understand the most hated of all subjects... math. Something else about me that I find funny is the fact that for all this talk of loving math and wanting to make a career teaching it, when I took Algebra in high school, I flunked it. Like really bad. Like 30% bad. And yet after years of practice and just changing my attitude, I have discovered a knack for it. I think that is another important thing to mention about me. I am an optimist. Even as I am writing this I am not too worried about whether or not I will even be adding this class tomorrow. Somehow I think that things will all work out for the best, especially if you keep a good attitude. You know what they say, "Those who look for the bad in the world will truly find it." And the same is true for the good in the world. Anyways... I think thats about 500 words. Good enough for tomorrow! I am really hoping that I make it in the class. The good thing is if I do, then all my optimism will be rewarded because you all will get to read about how much I believed that I would get in the class. And if I dont get in the class, then no one will read this, and no one will know that I am an optimist to begin with.