Dubious Battle Jim Nolan Character Analysis

From Lost to Found: The Transformation of Jim Nolan From the time he is introduced, to the moments shortly before his untimely death, Jim Nolan proves himself as the most dynamic character in In Dubious Battle. Troubled by a tragic past and a feeling of worthlessness, Nolan looked to find meaning in his life. The most important step that Nolan took to turn his life around was deciding to join the “Party.” After doing so, his life took a sharp turn in the right direction. By looking at specific moments throughout the novel, we can see how Jim changed from a man whose life was unfulfilling, to a man whose life comprised of leadership and confidence. As shown in his interview with Harry Nilson, Jim and his family had a haunted past. “My old

Right away, Jim began to learn about what it meant to be a Party member, and how important the strike was. Mac showed Jim that gaining the support of potential strikes was crucial. The first way he did this was by helping deliver Lisa’s baby (London’s daughter-in-law). Despite having no knowledge at all of how to deliver a child, Mac still went through with the procedure, so that he could gain the support of London and his people. After admitting to Jim that he did not know anything about delivering a baby, and that he was lucky that the procedure went well, Mac revealed why he did what he did. “With one night’s work we’ve got the confidence of the men and the confidence of London. And more than that, we made the men work for themselves, in their own defense, as a group. That’s what we’re out here for anyway, to teach them to fight in a bunch. Raising wages isn’t all we’re after. You know all that.” (Steinbeck 157) Mac taught Jim that it is important to take charge in uncertain times and to take risks. He also demonstrated everything the Party stood for. Yes, Mac’s main goal was to raise wages for the workers and gain support for the strike, but he also wanted to prove to Jim that they made London’s men work as a group; one of the main goals of the

Mac badly beat the boy who was encouraged to burn the barn, but then felt remorse for doing so. Jim, on the other hand, thought that it was absolutely necessary for Mac to have beaten the boy and told him not to feel sorry for what he had done, because he did what he needed to. At this point, it is clear that Jim has changed. Mac even said “I’ve seen men like you before. I’m scared of ’em. Jesus, Jim, I can see you changing every day.” (Steinbeck 529) It is clear that not only does Mac see how Jim has changed, but that Jim does as well. He told Mac, “I’m stronger than you, Mac. I’m stronger than anything in the world, because I’m going in a straight line.” (Steinbeck 530) By now, Jim has proved that he is a leader, and that he has found meaning to his life through the Party and the strike. Ultimately, Jim developed greatly from the beginning of the novel, to the moments shortly before his death. At the beginning of the novel, his life seemed pointless, unfulfilling, and miserable. However, joining the Party, and learning from Mac, Jim found meaning to his life as a striker and Party member. Just before his death, Jim had proved to Mac, but more importantly, to himself, that he was a leader. He was confident in his abilities, and role in the strike. Jim’s development throughout the novel is