Jim Nolan

Throughout the book, "In Dubious Battle," we see Jim Nolan's transformation from a man without a true identity, to someone in a support role to Mac, to a wounded soldier, and to ultimately a man who is briefly the driving force behind the strikers. And it is in this near final transformation of Jim, that he becomes closely tied to the growers in their own way of using the pickers/strikers, for their/his gain. Jim assumes a hidden role behind Mac and London, as the true brains behind the strike. But, in a way, his abuse of morality, leads him to being responsible of a power that closely resembles that of the tyrannical growers. It is displayed in his total disregard for a moral and humane way of motivating the strikers, similar to the growers who cut the pickers wages, and giving them the choice to either accept the pay, or starve.