The Capacity for Empathy and Social Imagination in "In Dubious Battle" by John Steinbeck
The capacity to understand and, in some instances, share the emotions of others is referred to as empathy, whereas the capacity to think outside of the conventional or expected way or extents of thinking is referred to as social imagination. In his book, John Steinbeck describes a young man named Jim Nolan who decides to abandon his home because he has nothing left to lose and join the communist party. Harry, who interviewed him and gave him an opportunity to join the team, is to thank for his successful entrance into the group. Harry continues by introducing Jim to the other team members and their various responsibilities. The members included Mac, Dick, and Joy. The author goes forward to describe some of the experiences that Jim goes through in his adventure and the individuals with whom he gets to meet and interact. In writing this novel, Steinbeck, in several ways agrees with Megan Boler in her view on empathy and social imagination. This essay discusses some of the instances within the story that Steinbeck pictures empathy and social imagination as per Boler’s ‘The Risks of Empathy.'
Instances of Empathy and Social Imagination in "In Dubious Battle"
One of the instances that Steinbeck portrays an act of empathy and its possible risk is when Jim and Mac face the challenge of having to acquire the trust of the other fellow workers. In having to do so, they had to accomplish an action that would convince other individuals that they were fit to join the group as they were of significant help to the entire team. Subsequently, Mac showed an act of empathy by offering to help London’s wife give birth despite not having any previous experience. The pain felt by the woman moved Mac that he decided to help. However, he had to lie to the other workers that he had experience in the medical field, as they would not have let him aid the woman without saying so (Steinbeck 218). Boler would describe this act as a risk as in his attempts to save the woman; Mac risked her life. Despite the fact that Mac’s act was irrational, he earned the trust of London who was the leader.
Immediately after pointing out the societal advantages of not only social imagination and empathy but also their possible origins, Boler goes ahead to ponder on whether the two aspects do more harm than good in the current society. She asks this rhetorically and then goes forward to point out some of the possible instances which are likely to prove otherwise the idea of empathy and social imagination causing less harm than good. London, a character in Steinbeck’s ‘In Dubious Battle’ exhibits social creativity by thinking away from the usual routine of the workers and instigating them to carry out a strike to defend their pay (Steinbeck 222). In doing so, London shows his understanding of the misery of himself and the other workers due to the pay cut and jumps into action by calling for a strike. It is correct to some extent to state that London exhibited social imagination. It may only be accurate to some degree because Boler would argue in this situation that London was also part of those undergoing misery due to the pay cut and did not necessarily imagine the situation (Boler 156).
Boler acknowledges that empathy may act as a solution to some of the evils of the society (Boler 155). The truth in this statement highlights in Steinbeck’s ‘In Dubious Battle’ in the scenario when Mac manages to convince Anderson to allow free labor on his land. Initially, Anderson was unwilling to let Mac work on his property for free, as he was unable to see how he would gain on that. Consequently, Mac took it upon himself to show empathy by explaining to Anderson how he would earn in the whole situation. Mac took it upon himself to try to look at the issue from the perspective of Anderson subsequently convincing him that as a result, he would acquire the money, which he would use to pay off his mortgage (Steinbeck 258).
Dick develops a sense of both empathy and social imagination when, upon convincing Anderson to accept his free labor, he shows up with a healthcare practitioner. He was supposed to bring some workers to work on Anderson’s land, and the doctor was to make sure that they were in right health conditions. Also, the doctor was to treat the workers whenever they fell sick or in the case of accidents where he would offer first aid to them (Steinbeck 262). By doing this, Dick shows both empathy and social imagination. He elicited empathy as by bringing the doctors, it showed that he understood the feelings of other workers and consequently he knew that these workers would require medical attention from time to time. In addition, he exhibited social imagination, as by thinking of bringing the doctor, he thought in a way that most of the employers like Anderson did not. It showed that he thought differently from the others. Boler may have described this act as passive empathy (Boler 156)
Upon the death of Joy, Mac spots an opportunity of using her end to create unity among the workers and to increase further the interest of the workers in the impending strike. After London fails to give the speech that would move the striking workers, Mac takes over and offers a heartfelt speech that would move the workers. In doing so, he exhibited the theme of social imagination as he thought in a way that not most of the workers did, including London. The speech he gave was about how Joy had been committed to the cause and how she had worked hard. Consequently, the workers felt more motivated for the strike as through Mac they realized that they were under oppression. They were more determined to fight for their rights (Steinbeck 281).
In the confusion of the strike, some of the workers merge up and decide to burn Hunter’s place. It was against the will of London and Mac. In the same confusion. Some workers bring with them a boy. The boy confesses to Mac and London that he, together with a group of friends merged up and took part in the burning down of Anderson’s barn. Consequently, Mac feels terrible about the situation and punches the boy before letting him go. Mac displays his empathy by being sorry for the boy after hitting him. It takes a lot of reassurance from Jim to convince Mac that his action was worth it as it was wrong for the boys to turn Anderson’s barn into flames (Steinbeck 329). Jim also shows empathy by taking into consideration the feelings of Mac after punching the boy. It is due to his empathy that he takes it upon himself to try to make him feel better after his action, which he later felt, was irrational.
Both Mac and Jim feel sorry for the workers as they learn of the oppression that they go through in their job. They realize that the workers are highly oppressed and work under poor conditions. Such a scenario encourages the two men to feel sorry for the workers and consequently urge them to carry out strikes as a way of demanding for their rights as workers. Through Jim, Mac and some other individuals, the workers learned to carry out demonstrations that were meant to voice their opinions on their desired working conditions and pay (Steinbeck 247). Jim and Mac had to pretend in some cases to achieve their goal. The actions of Jim and Mac depicted a lot of empathy and social imagination. Empathy comes out in that they felt the pain and emotions of the workers and were even willing to fight with and for them. Their empathy made them risk their lives for the workers, and Jim also ended up meeting his death. Social imagination, on the other hand, came out, as Jim and Mac were able to think in a way different from how the other workers thought. Social imagination caused them to have open minds and be diverse in their thinking. Consequently, they were able to convince others that they were different people. One of them, for instance, convinced the others that he was a doctor just to gain their trust. Their social imagination enabled them to think in diverse ways (Steinbeck 218).
A significant representation of social imagination in Steinbeck’s work showcases in the several occasions when Mac makes a decision based on what the others least expected of him. The book pictures Mac as a character with a daring and determined personality. In more than one occasion, Mac performs an audacious act that goes against everyone’s expectations. Despite this fact, some of such instances seem to go according to Boler’s argument of it being a risk (Boler 156). It is so because in some cases the chances that Mac takes are unsuccessful. An instance is towards the end of the story where Jim dies due to Mac’s bold decision of not running away. Another unsuccessful example of social imagination by Mac was when he convinced Jim to defy the message from the Sheriff to vacate Andersons’s land before the next day, or they would be moved out. Mac’s reaction to this situation is unexpected as he tells Jim that they should stay and fight showing his social imagination. Under the same circumstances, Mac also tells Jim to go and hide, as he is essential to the team. In doing this, he displays his empathy. The man imagined that it would not be good if Jim got hurt and decided to provide a solution. Unfortunately, Jim’s death was inevitable as he eventually met his end. Boler would also be right as Mac’s empathy was a risk and was consequently unsuccessful. Most of his decisions in the book that relied on his empathy and social imagination were unsuccessful (Steinbeck 361).
Final Thoughts on Empathy and Social Imagination in "In Dubious Battle"
Despite Boler’s argument that empathy is a risk. Steinbeck goes a long way in his book ‘In Dubious Battle’ to indicate his disagreement on the issue. In his book as discussed above, there are several instances of empathy and social imagination where all goes well, and they are not risks as Boler states. However, Boler’s argument fits a few instances within Steinbeck’s work. Those instances are also within the above discussion, which had a basis for discussing the points of divergence and convergence of Boler’s and Steinbeck’s works. The findings as seen above are that in most instances empathy is not necessarily a risk but may occur with excellent results. All in all, empathy and social imagination are not necessarily harmful or harmless. Instead, they may be either depending on the situation at hand and the resultant effect of the case.
References
Boler, Megan. "The risks of empathy: Interrogating multiculturalism's gaze." Cultural studies
11.2 (1997): 253-273.
Steinbeck, John. In dubious battle (1936). Na, 1992.
