American readers often find In Dubious Battle a disturbing novel. The principal characters, especially Jim, are presented with insight and sympathy; however, the views they represent often seem to be opposed to traditional American values, since they are professed Communists. The novel is Steinbeck's first attempt in fiction to deal with the plight of workers in California who were being exploited during the Great Depression. The novelist's handling of this volatile issue was met with mixed reviews by those who read the novel immediately upon publication, since his apparent sympathy for Communist principles was not regarded favorably by a majority of Americans.
1. The two principal figures in this novel are openly affiliated with "communism." What does Steinbeck mean by this term? Is he associating these men with the brand of communism practiced for nearly.....
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