The Adventures of Jon Dos Passos

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1 The Adventures of Jon Dos Passos The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. Citation Accessed Citable Link Terms of Use Aaron, Daniel The adventures of Jon Dos Passos. In Writers on the left: Episodes in American literary communism, New York : Columbia University Press. July 12, :09:10 AM EDT This article was downloaded from Harvard University's DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at (Article begins on next page)

2 from:writersontheleftbydanielaaron CHAPTERFIFTEEN THEADVENTURESOFJOHNDOSPASSOS (pp ) UNTILHISREVIEWofTheAdventuresofaYoungMan,Cowleyhadbeenoneofthe mostintelligentandappreciativecriticsofjohndospassos.hehadreadeach volumeofhistrilogyu.s.a.withsympatheticattentionalthoughthebleaknessof DosPassos's"finalmessage"clashedwithCowley'smid thirtiesoptimismaboutthe out comeoftheclassstruggle."foralltheirscopeandrichness,"cowleywrote, "theyfailtoexpressonesideofcontemporarylife thewilltostruggleahead,the comradeshipinstruggle,theconsciousnessofnewmanandnewforcescontinually rising.althoughwemaybeabeatennation,thefightisnotover."1nevertheless,he rankeddospassosamongthefewseriousnovelistsofthetimes. Threeyearslater,onlyafewmonthsbeforeCowleyhimselfwouldbreakwiththe movement,hepronounceddospassos'snovelofthespanishcivilwarhisweakest booksinceoneman'sinitiation(1921).thisjudgment,heconfessed,"mayhave beenaffectedbydisagreementwithhispoliticalideas,"buthefoundthenoveltired andderivativeaswellasfactuallyunreliableanditsconceptionofhumanmotives lowandmean spirited.2 Inthesummerof1939,theSpanishCivilWarwasalreadyabittermemory,butfora fewmonthsithadbeentheoneconflictonwhichleftradicalsofalmostevery persuasioncouldagree.ittouched"peopleofmysort,"cowleywrote,moredeeply than"anyotherinternationaleventsincetheworldwarandtherussian revolution."tohim,astomostamericanintellectuals,communistandnon Communist,itseemedtolaybarewithoutambiguity"twosystemsoflife": Landlords,theChurch,theMilitaryandFinancerepresentingclassprivilegeand intolerance;andtheaspiringworkersandpeasants,artistsandpoetsguiding"a poverty strickenpeopletowardmoreknowledge,morefreedom,moreof everything."iftherepublicangovernmentlosttothefranco Hitler Mussolini coalition,thenfascist inspiredinsurrections"mightberepeatedinczechoslovakia, infrance,inallthefreenationsofeurope."3 Cowley'spro LoyalistfervorhadbeenquickenedbyavisittoSpaininJuly1937asa delegatetoaninternationalwriters'congressheldinvalencia.hewentabsolutely convincedoftheparty'scorrectnessinopposingtheanarcho syndicalistelementsin Spain(denouncedas"uncontrollables"or"Trotskyites")andfoundhisviews confirmedbythepropagandaministryinbarcelona.hegavenocredence whatsoevertothereportsemanatingfromspainsincetheearlysummer,and publicizedintheanti partypress,ofthebrutalrepressionscarriedoutagainst antifascistanarchistsandsocialistsbythestalin dominatedgovernment.4the kindestexplanationhecouldofferfordospassos'sacceptanceofsuchchargeswas

3 hisangerandremorseoverthedeathofafriendexecuted(understandably,in Cowley'sopinion)bytheSpanishGovernment.* [*AccordingtoCowley,Hemingway,afterintercedingforJoseRobles,thefriendof DosPassos,"withthehighestofficialsoftheSpanishgovernmentbecameconvinced ofhisguilt.dospassoscontinuedtobelievehewasinnocent,evenafterlearning thathehadbeenconvictedandshot."nr,xcix(june14,1937),p.163.replyingto Cowley(ibid.,pp ),DosPassosgavehisopinionthathisoldfriendand translatorhadbeenmurderedbythecommunistcontrolled"specialsection," becauserussiansecretagentsfeltthatroblesknewtoomuchabouttherelations betweenthespanishwarministryandthekremlinandwasnot,fromtheirvery specialpointofviewpoliticallyreliable."] TheheroofTheAdventuresofaYoungManisnotJohnDosPassos,buthiscareer andtheauthor'saresymbolicallyparallel.glennspotswoodjoinsthecommunist Partybecauseostensiblyitfightsforbettersocialorder.Heworksasanorganizerin HarlanCountyuntilhediscoversthepartyexploitingthestriketoenhanceitsown prestigeratherthantosavetheminers.glenn'srefusaltofollowthetwistsand turnsofthepartylinemakeshimarenegadeintheeyesofthepartyleaders,and theirvindictivenessdogshiminspainafterhejoinstheinternationalbrigade. PersecutedasaTrotskyistandjailed,heisreleasedonlytobesentonamission whichisnothinglessthananunofficialdeathsentence. DosPassos,anobserverratherthanajoiner,neverbelongedtotheCommunist Party,neverorganizedastrike,neverfoughtinSpain,buthewatchedtheseevents withhisowneyes.thedeathofglennspotswoodsignifiedtheendofdospassos's turbulentaffiliationwiththeradicalmovement.hisspanishwarnovelmustnotbe readasasectariantractorwhatanewmassescriticcalled"acrudepieceof Trotskyistagit prop."rather,asfarrellrightlysaid,itdescribes"adead endofa historicmovement thecommunistparty."5 Thebeginningofhisradicaladventuresdatesbackatleastasfaras1916,hislast yearatharvard,andpossiblyearlier.duringhisundergraduateyears,hewas conscientiouslyrejectingallthe"truths"hehadpreviouslytakenforgranted.he smashednoidols,butsymptomsofincipientrebellioncreptintothefavorable reviewsofjohnreed'sinsurgentmexico(1914)andwarinwesterneurope(1916) thathewrotefortheharvardmonthly.6heparticularlylikedreed'simpressionistic style,thehappycombinationofthefactualandthepersonal,whichdospassoslater incorporatedintohisownpungentbrandof"reportage."* [*NathanAschdescribedDosPassosin1934asakindofartist reporter:"the usuallyvaguedistinctionbetweentheartistandthereporterbecomepronounced hereandconsistsintheartist'shavingmoredepthandcomprehensionand sympathy,maybemoreloveforhumansliving.hehasmanyfunctions,butwhenhe re createssomethingthatreallyhappenshedoesabetterjobthanwouldan apparentlycold,objective,will not take sidesreporter.eventsinhishandbecome

4 significant,haveameaning,acquiredirection,becomeapartoflife,andplace themselvesintime'sduration."nr,lxxviii(may9,1934),pp ] AftergraduationandontheeveofhisembarkationforFranceasa"gentleman volunteer"ambulancedriver,dospassos'slettersalmostexplodedwithrebellion. "Ihavebeenspendingmytimeoflategoingtopacifistmeetingsandbeingdispersed bythepolice.iamgettingquiteexperiencedinthecossacktacticsofthenewyork policeforce.i'vebeeninamysteriouspoliceraid,too;nearlypiledintoablack maria EverydayIbecomemorered Myoneambitionistobeabletosingthe international... "Ithinkweareallofusaprettymilkylot, don'tyou?withourteatableconvictions andourradicalismthatkeepssoconsistentlywithintheboundsofdecorum Damn it,whycouldn'toneofushaverefusedtoregisterandgonetojailandmadea generalassofhimself?ishouldhavehadmorehopeforharvard. "AllthethrustandadvanceandcourageinthecountrynowliesintheEastSideJews andinafewoftheisolated"foreigners"whoseopinionssoshockthenewyork Times.They'resomuchmorerealandalivethanweareanyway I'dliketo annihilatethesestupidcollegesofours,andalltheniceyoungmen,therein, instillersofstodginess everyformofbastardculture,middleclasssnobism. "AndwhatarewefitforwhentheyturnusoutofHarvard?We'retoointelligentto besuccessfulbusinessmenandwehaven'tthesandortheenergytobeanything else.untilwidenerisblownupanda.lawrencelowellassassinatedandthe BusinessSchooldestroyedanditssitesowedwithsalt nogoodwillcomeoutof Cambridge." Oragain,stillbloodyandfacetious: "I'vedecidedmyonlyhopeisinrevolution inwholesaleassassinationofall statesmen,capitalists,war mongers,jingoists,inventors,scientists inthe destructionofallthemachineryoftheindustrialworld,equallybarrenin destructionandconstruction. "Myonlyrefugefromthedeepestdepressionisindreamsofvengefulguillotines." HisdistrustforWilsonianplatitudesantedatedhiswarexperiences,buthisprotests werehigh spiritedandgay.eastboundontheu.s.s.chicagoinjune1917,he professedhugedelightatthepresenceoffivesocialistsandpokedfunat"archie" Rooseveltandotherpatricianofficers,bloodthirstyimperialiststoaman.Werehe backatharvard,hewrotetoarthurmccomb,hewouldbeattackingconscription, thedailypress,and"theintellectualclasses."afteramonth'sspellinafrench trainingcamp,hismooddarkened:

5 "Politically,I'vegivenuphopeentirely thecapitalistshavetheworldsointheir clutches Imeantheelderlyswagbelliedgentlemenwhocontrolalldestinies thatidon'tseehowitcaneverescape.therearetoomanywhogosingingtothe sacrifice whothrowthemselvesgladly,abjectlybeneaththejuggernaut.it'srather acomforttohavegivenuphopeentirely." Althoughitwasarelieftoescapeinto"apleasantlycynicalsullenness"and"stride awayfromthehumanrace,"heknewthatintimehewouldfeelthetwingesof conscienceand"takeupagainmyself inflictedburden." Duringthesummerandfallof1917,hecaughtthefullblastofthewar,later recordedingloriouslyinhisthreesoldiers:themutilatedbodies,thehorseschoking todeathinpoisongas,thedrunkentroops.hefoundithideousandabsurd.wasn't ittime,heasked,tostopcryingoverthedeadoroveraprobablymythicalliberty? "LiketheJewsattheirwailingplace,theLiberalscovertheirheadswiththeirrobes ofintegrityandwail,wail,wail God,I'mtiredofwailing.Iwanttoassassinate." Onlyonethoughtconsoledhim.Atleastthepoisongasoftrenchwarfarewasbetter thanthemiasmaofliesthatenshroudedtheworld,andifthewarcouldnotbe stopped,onemightstill"heave'arfabrickintothetempleofmolochifnothingelse" and"disturbwithlaughterthereligioushalooftheholocaust."hestillsawthe ridiculousnessofrichardnorton,surroundedbyfatofficers,addressingthenorton HarjesAmbulanceUnit:"andasgentlemenvolunteersyouenlistedinthisservice,as gentlemenvolunteersibidyoufarewell." FromAugust1917untilthesummerof1918,whenhewassentbacktotheStates becauseofhisantimilitaryviews,helivedthelifeofavagabondambulancedriver, firstinfrance,theninitaly,findingtheagonyandthemiseryofeuropepreferable totheamerican"orgyofpatrioticbunk."withroberthillyer,herepairedbroken engines,scavengedforwineandomelets,andcollaboratedonanovel.atthistime, too,hesawagooddealofanother"gentlemanvolunteer,"a"certainjacklawson,a dramatistsmokingapipeofunexampledstench,"busilyengagedinwriting"afuture Broadwaysuccess." BackintheStatesinthefallof1918,hewaitedtofindoutwhetherhewouldbe dischargedonaccountofhisbadeyesorassignedtoanotherambulanceunit.the organizationofarmylifeappalledhim."organization,"hedeclared,"isdeath."and yethedidnotwanttobeanywhereelse."i'mgladi'mhere,"hewrotetomccomb, "evenifiseemtogrumble.i'vealwayswantedtodivestmyselfofclassandthe moniedbackground thearmyseemedthebestway Fromthebottom thought I,onecanseeclear So,thoughImighthaveescapedbehindmysacredeyes,I walkedwiththeothercattleintothebrandingpen!"dospassosenlistedinthe medicalcorps,buthesawnomoreactiveservice.7 Heemergedfromthewaranindependent radicalseeker,filledwiththemission(as hesaidofthespanishnovelistpiobaroja)"toputtheacidtesttoexisting institutions,tostripthemoftheirveils."8beforehisdischarge,hespentthespring

6 of1919inparisobservingthepeaceconferencewithhillyer,lawson,andother friends,andsniffinghappilytheradicalwindsofdoctrineblowinginfromtheeast. "Weknewthattheworldwasalousypesthouseofidiocyandcorruption,"hewrote later,"butitwasspring.weknewthatinalltheornatebuildings,underthecrystal chandeliers,underthebrocadedhangingsthepoliticiansanddiplomatswere brewingpoison,fuddledoldmenfesteringliketentcaterpillarsinatangleofred tapeandgoldbraid,"butthecaterpillarscouldbeburned.9discoveringthe drawingsofgeorgegroszatthistimeseemedtodospassoslike"findingabrilliant newweapon"or"hearingawell imaginedandproperlybalancedstringof cusswords."*theymirroredthecorruptionthatdospassoswassettingdownin words,andhemayverywellhavepatternedhiscorrosivesatireaftergrosz'svisual images. [*"Asatiristisamanwhosefleshcreepssoatuglyandsavageandincongruous aspectsofsocietythathehastoexpressthemasbrutallyandnakedlyaspossibleto getrelief.heseekstoputintoexpressiveformshisgrislyobsessionsthewaya bacteriologistseekstoisolateavirusoradangerousmicro organism...lookingat Grosz'sdrawingsyouaremorelikelytofeelagrinofpainthantoburstoutlaughing. InsteadoflettingyoubethesuperiorbystanderlaughinginanOlympianwayat somebodyabsurd,groszmakesyouidentifyyourselfwiththesordidandpitiful object."introductiontogrosz'sinterregnum(n.y.,1936),p.18.] TheradicalismofDosPassossimmeredintheearlytwenties,boiledfuriously between1927and1932,andbegantocoolthereafter.atnotimedidheconsider joiningthecommunistparty,buthesupporteditduringhisfellow travelingstage asthesuccessortothei.w.w.andasthe"arch enemy"ofprivilege.inthepubliceye, however,ifnothisown,hisassociationwiththenewmassesandwiththeradical writersofthenewplaywrightstheatrefrom1927to1929,linkedhimwiththe revolutionarymovement;andhisownairways,inc.(1928) packedwithsuicides, frame ups,electrocutions wasahorrendousdiatribeagainstcapitalist institutions.heobviouslyintendedittoillustratewhathewascallingatthistime, "sociallycreativeideas...thenewmyththat'sgottobecreatedtoreplacethe imperialistprosperitymythifthemachineryofamericanlifeisevertobegotten undersocialcontrol."10 Increatingthisnewmyth,however,DosPassosseemedtosubordinatepeopleto conditions,tobeconcentratingonthedisasterratherthanonthepeopleconcerned. EdmundWilson,agoodfriendandhismostastutecritic,wonderedifDosPassos's hatredofcapitalistsocietywasnotbecominga"distasteforallthebeingswho composeit."inmanhattantransfer(1925),hisfirstcollectivenovel,humanity "cameoffbadly";unintentionallydospassoshaddamned"thesufferersalongwith thedisease."inairways,inc.,thesuffererswereinconceivablyhideous.dospassos didnotdistinguishcapitalism'sofficialrepresentativesfromtheunprotesting multitudesunfortunateenoughtohavebeenbornunderthesystemandtoostupid toopposeit.suchanimpossiblesocietyofyahoosimpelledwilson"torushtothe defenseofeventheamericanbathroom,eventhefordcar which,afterall,one

7 beginstoreflect,haveperhapsdoneasmuchtosavethepeoplefromthe helplessness,ignorance,andsqualorastheprophetsofrevolutionhavedone." WhenagiftedandintelligentmanlikeDosPassosresortedtosuchflatdichotomies ofgoodandevil,whenhemartyredhis"goodguys"andmade"thewrongside" invariablyrepulsive,hewasbetrayinganinwardsentimentality"ofwhichhis misappliedresentmentsaremerelytheaggressiveside."dospassosbroughthis ownpoliticalideasundersuspicion"becausewesuspecttheprocessesbywhichhe arrivedatthem."11 IfWilsondeprecatedhisfriend's"infatuation"withsocialrevolution,the Communistsdidnot.TheyheldupDosPassostothewaveringortimidliteratiasthe primeexampleofamanwhohadsavedhimselfandstrengthenedhisworkby seeing"thepromiseofadynamictraditioninthenewsocialorderthatisslowly emergingtoday..."trueenoughtheycouldnotapplaudhispreferenceforpolitical independenceoragreewithhisadvicetomiddle classliberals(namely,"everybody whoisn'tforcedbyhispositionintheeconomicstructureofsocietytobeproworkeroranti worker")totrytomitigatetheferocityoftheclassstruggle,butthey tookprideinhisrevolutionarytemperandinhisgrowingreputationinthesoviet Union.Allsignspointedtohiscloserunionwiththeparty.12 Butfutureeventsprovedwhatsomepartyspokesmanalreadysuspected:Dos Passos's"psychologicalorientation"was"notrevolutionary,"13atleastnottothe extentofendorsingallpartypractices.thenewmasseswasgrievedearlyin1934 whenitfoundthenamejohndospassosamongthesignersof"anopenlettertothe CommunistParty"protestingagainst"thedisruptiveactionoftheCommunists whichledtothebreakingupofthemeetingcalledbythesocialistpartyinmadison SquareGardenofFebruary16th." TheSocialistPartyhadcalledthemassmeetingtohonortheSocialistvictimsof ChancellorDollfuss,whosesoldiershadshotdownVienneseworkersand bombardedtheirapartmenthouses.intheireffortstotakeoverthemeeting, Communist"goon"squadsprovokedariot."Insteadofworkingclassunity,"the signersdeclared,"factionalwarfareruled.speakerswerehowleddown,fistsflew, chairswerehurled,scoreswereinjured."theriotdishonorodtheantifascistcause, andalthoughthesignersopposedthesocialistleadershiphereandabroad,they neverthelessheldthecommunistsculpable.14 Communistspokesmen,blamingtheSocialistsforthefracas,expectedthe "nauseatinglydistorted"accountsperpetratedbythe"scribes"and"lackeys"ofthe capitalistpress,butdospassoswasacomrade,acontributortothenewmasses,a manwhose"bookshavehelpedmoldachallengingattitudetowardcapitalismand itsconcomitantevils,"a"literaryguideandinspiration."whatwashedoinginthis "queercompany"of"revolutionarybutterflies"?dospassosrepliedthathesigned theletterbecausehefearedforthefutureoftheamericanradicalmovement,"of whichthecommunistpartyinthiscountryispoliticallythemostadvanced outpost."

8 "WhathappenedinMadisonSquareGardenwasshockingtomebecauseitindicated thegrowthofunintelligentfanaticismthat,inmyopinion,canonlyendinthe divisionoftheconsciouselementsoftheexploitedclassesintoimpotentbrawling sects,andintheruinforourtimeoftheefforttowardsasanelyorganized society."15 Fromthepartypointofview,ComradeDosPassos'sanswerobviouslyshowedhe wasconfused;hemistookbolshevikfirmnessfor"unintelligentfanaticism."but reviewersinthenewmassescontinuedtospeakofhimasamerica'sfirstnovelist, andhemingway'ssuperior,untilhereturnedfromspaindisenchanted.onlythen didtheonce neglectedhemingway,whohadwrittenonlyafewpiecesforthenew Massesandhadkepthisindividualityinviolate,becomein1937and1938the party'sfavoriteliteraryname.dospassosinthesummerof1937waswellonhis waytobecomingaclassenemy. HerbertSolow,tracingtheshiftingliteraryreputationsofDosPassosand Hemingway,explainedthecausesforDosPassos'sdevaluation.InSpain, "DosPassosfoundbombshorrifying,bloodshedgruesome,anarchistshoundedbya Stalinistcamarilla,thePeople'sFrontconcedingtoAnglo Frenchimperialismand suppressingsocialism.heconsequentlycriticizedthestaliniststohiscompanion. "Hemingwayfoundbombsintriguing,bloodshedexciting,anarchists'trea sonable,' thepeople'sfrontnoble,socialismnonsense.heconsequentlydenouncedhis companion." BackfromSpain,"DosPassospublishedarticlescriticizingtheCommunist International,defendedthehonoroftheSpanishanarchists,supportedtheTrotsky DefenseCommittee,opposedcollectivesecurity. "HemingwayperformedattheCommunistParty'sWritersCongress,joinedsixteen C.P. controlledcommittees,wroteaplay"exposing"the'fifthcolumn,'fishedtarpon atkeywest,andsockedmaxeastman."16 ThepartycriticsstillwereunwillingtoabandonDosPassos,buthisretreatto middle classliberalism,hisnewconfidenceinanamericacutofffromeurope's rulingcliquesbyafriendlyatlantic,hisrevivedinterestintheamericandemocratic heritageseemeda"strangemetamorphosis."17andhispublished"conversation" withtheodoredreiser,surelyoneoftheoddestandwooliestpoliticaldiscussions evercarriedonbetweentwodistinguishednovelists,musthaveseemedeven stranger. IttookplaceinDreiser'sapartment,December17,1937.Fromaratheruncertain exchangeonthepoliticalsituationinnewyorkcity,theconversationveeredto UptonSinclair,Quakerism,andW.P.A.writerstothesubjectofRussia:

9 DosPassos:Fiveyearsago,agreatmanyAmericanspretendedtobeveryhopeful aboutrussia.ithinknowbecauseofthisterrificterror,becauseofthefactthatthe terrorhastokeepon,andkeepsgoingon,peoplefeelthatsomethingisnotworking there. Dreiser:Well,IwasstrongforRussiaandforStalinandthewholeprogram,butin thelastyear,ihavebeguntothinkthatmaybeitwon'tbeanybetterthananything else. DosPassos:Well,though,lookattheachievementsoftheFrenchRevolution,a greatmanysurvivedthroughtheperiodfollowingnapoleon.ithinkagreatmanyof itsachievementsarestillgoingon. Dreiser:Yes,andagreatmanyachievementsoftheRussianRevolutionareright herewithus.we'reindebtedtothemforalotofthings 40hourweek,W.P.A. I meanforpublicworks thedole,becausetheyhadthedoleovertherefromthe first.wagesandlaws,controloffarming.thisbillthat'supnow.thatwouldnever comeinthiscountryexceptforrussiain1917,atleastnotinourday. DosPassos:No,IthinkallthegreatachievementsoftheRussianRevolutionhave beenmade,andthat'sabsorbedintohistory.andistilldon'tunderstandwhat's happeningthere.itsoundslike... Dreiser:AnddamnedifIdo.TheyclaimthattheygivetheRussiansaliberal education,youknow,atechnicaleducationfromfarminganddairyingup.theyalso givethemtraininginthearts,pertainingtothetheatre,thelibraries,and gymnastics,health,diet allthat'ssupposedtogowithbeingarussian.butwhat seemstobelackingisthequestionofideology,ofwhattheyaretothink.andthey aretothinkthatanyotherformofgovernmentisinsaneandthateverybodyoutside Russiaisworseoffthantheyare,thattheyarelessmiserablethananybodyelse.I knowthattobeafact.still,thatmaybeatemporarycondition,anattemptto achievecohesionandunity.ithasbeenhowmanyyearsnow?twentyyears,and theyhavedonethatmuch,butit'sjustaquestioninmymindwhetherthey'lldo more,orwhetherrussiawillbeliberalized.maybetheydowanttohavealittle religion,orgreaterclassdifferences,oralittlemoremoney lessstandardizationin life,youknow. DosPassos:Yes. WhenaskedbyDreiserifhewouldliketo"Russianize"Americaifhecould,Dos Passossaidhewouldnot.AlthoughheagreedwithDreiserthatthesituationwas verybad,americastillhadachance:itwas"probablythecountrywheretheaverage guyhasgotthebetterbreak."nationalizethemonopolies,yes,butfindawayto instillthespiritof"thenewenglandtownmeetingintobureaucraticindustry."18

10 Afewmonthsafterthe"Conversation,"MikeGoldpassedjudgmentonDosPassosin thedailyworker.arnoldgingrich,publisherofesquire,hadsentgoldacopyof U.S.A.,theseparatevolumesofwhichGoldhadreadandpraised,askinghimifhedid notthinkitwas"thegreatestbookwritteninmodernamerica."golddislikedsitting "in'esthetic'judgment"onthebookofawriterinfectedwiththelunacyof Trotskyism.Once,headmitted,hehadpraisedDosPassosenthusiastically,asmany otheramericanandsovietcriticshaddone,becausehewas"goingsomewhere." Andrightlyso:"werecognizedinhimapowerfulifbewilderedtalent"and"triedto helphimfreethattalentfromthemuckofbourgeoisnihilism."onrereadingthe trilogy,goldwasstruckbythepervasivenessoftheword"merde,"symptomaticof DosPassos'sdisgustwiththeworldandhishatredofhumanity."Likethe FrenchmanCeline,DosPassoshatesCommunistsbecauseorganicallyhehatesthe humanrace."19 OthercriticsnotsopassionatelyinvolvedinthemovementwouldlaterassessDos Passos'sdisaffectionmoreclinicallythanMikeGolddid,seeinghischronic rebelliousness,hisdoggedsearchforasatisfyingfaith,andhisstubborn libertarianismasamanifestationoflatenthostilitytohisfatherandaconsequence ofadolescentfrustrations.whateveritsorigin,however,itseemsclearenoughnow, asitseemedtosomeofhiscontemporariesinthethirties,thatdospassosnever foundanyformofcollectivismcongenial.andwhentheparty,speakingforthe oppressed,becameitselfinhiseyesanagencyoftheoppressor,herepudiatedit.his changeofheartwasalreadyapparentinthebigmoney,thethirdvolumeofhis trilogy,inwhichtherevolutionaryleadersappeared,accordingtoisidorschneider, asdehumanizedrobots,andinwhichdospassos'sconcernextendedonlytothe loneindividual. "Mysympathies,"hewrotein1939,"liewiththeprivateinthefrontlineagainstthe brasshat;withthehodcarrieragainstthestrawboss,orthewalkingdelegatefor thatmatter;withthelaboratoryworkeragainstthestuffedshirtinamortarboard; withthecriminalagainstthecop." Severaldecadeslater,thischronicoppositionistandfoeoforganizationwasstill conductingaone mancampaignagainstuniversalbureaucracy.20