Even though John Steinbeck was very patriotic, many perceived him as a communist. This was because in his book, In Dubious Battle, he portrays two men, Mac and Jim, who are Reds. He seems to favor them throughout the book as they try to rally apple pickers to strike against the their Grower's Association. While Steinbeck's political beliefs are unknown by many, his depiction of Mac and Jim's attempt to organize the men has caused some of his readers to confuse the author's beliefs with those of his character's.

Mac and Jim came to The Torgas Valley hoping to rally the men to strike. Mac stressed to Jim that he needed to keep his eyes peeled for opportunities to gain the worker`s trust. Soon, they learned of a young woman giving birth, and they recognized it as the perfect chance. Mac and Jim used their...