The Jungle 3 Essay, Research Paper
The Jungle Essay
The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, clearly depicts the socio-economic strife and political turpitude that ushered America into the 20th century. While telling the story of Lithuanian immigrants struggling to survive in Chicago, Sinclair illustrates how avarice and ruthless competition were driving forces in the exploitational predatory capitalist |jungleX of American |societyX at the turn of the century. This radical novel, described as muckraking by President Theodore Roosevelt, was a sounding board for pro-socialist politics.
Sinclair+s polemic drama begins in the back room of a Chicago saloon. The guests are drunk and drained. The prospect of returning to the rigorous labors of the stockyards right after the ceremony leaves them demoralized. Jurgis Rudkus, however, the main character, refuses to succumb to the suffering of the multitudes in Packingtown, a predominantly immigrant community in Chicago. He promises to work harder; he wants to achieve the American dream.
After pooling the family+s resources, Jurgis is able to leave a dilapidated lodge-house for a |newX modest home (which had hidden costs) where his family would reside. When Dede Antanas, Jurgis+ father, loses his job and is forced to kickback a third of his paltry salary in order to get a new job working in a dark, damp, |pickle roomX, Jurgis begins to lose faith in America. Jurgis witnesses the darkside of American society, and the resultant lassitude in the workforce. Jurgis observes the butchery of pregnant cows and their unborn calves, which are illegally mixed with other carcasses, including those of sick animals dead on arrival to the stock yards, for consumption. He witnesses beatings, graft, and dirty deals.
As winter approaches, the marriage of Jurgis to Ona becomes cheerless. The pressures of work, poverty, and illness stifle their spirits. Jurgis+ father dies.
Vexed by the working conditions of Packingtown, Jurgis joins a labor union where he begins to learn English. He develops a cynical attitude towards democracy. Eventually, the deteriorating working conditions, sickness and despair make life too depressing for Jurgis. He discovers that his wife was pressured into sleeping with her boss, and that the second child she is carrying is not his. Jurgis attacks her boss, and lands in jail. His wife dies, his baby dies. He gets released from jail, only to get jailed again, injured. Released from jail a second time, Jurgis becomes a hobo, then he turns to a life of crime. One day he wanders into a political rally seeking warmth. An evocative orator converts him to socialism and his life takes a turn for the better. Jurgis gets a job as a hotel porter, in an auberge owned by a socialist. The novel ends on election night in 1904 where Chicago learns that the Socialists are on the ascent.
Thematically, Sinclair intended to focus on the issues of wage slavery, graft, corruption, Social Darwinism, class consciousness and the corporate domination which persisted despite the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890. He criticized advertising, capitalism, and the meat-packing industry. He attacked corrupt politicians and business practices. He described America as a plutocracy – rule of the wealthy, and an oligarchy – rule of a privileged minority, subjugating the proletariat or working class. He blamed the ills of American society on its foundation in competition for profit. In the character of Nicholas Schliemann, he even promotes anarchy, in the belief that full social and political liberty requires release from government constraints. Shliemann touts socialism as an important step in the direction of anarchy.
Sinclair offered solutions to the ills. He aimed to replace competition with cooperation. He wanted public ownership of essential industries with true democratic control. In his opinion, democracy under capitalism is a sham because the business magnates control the government, so it is not a government of and by the people. The elections were rigged by industrialists and Mafia with the workers generally losing. Sinclair illustrated this, for example, when Jurgis sought citizenship. Jurgis was obliged to vote for a local boss, Mike Scully. He became a citizen in exchange for two dollars plus two hours off work with pay. He became an undercover operator for that boss, taking bribes from his underlings and beating up strikers.
Sinclair reported that unions were no match for the capitalist organizations and the workers were ignorant of their own best interests. The businesses took advantage by cannibalizing the strong workers and discarding the weak. The entire political machine is exposed as corrupt and impersonal, taking no responsibility for the workers. Just as Uncle Tom+s Cabin exposed evils of slavery, Sinclair poignantly demonstrates that workers were slaves to the whims of their capitalist masters and that immigrants, ignorant of the language, ways and means, were the most vulnerable to the capitalist trap.
The themes of The Jungle also have parallelism to themes of science at the time, in particular, the naturalist movement espoused by Emile Zola, and the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin. Just as Zola focused on how environment shapes the lives of the individual, Sinclair evinces that the downfall of his characters, and particularly their criminal behaviors, are consequences of the society. Darwin described evolution as nature+s obedience to survival of the fittest. Sinclair argued that the competitive nature of survival of the fittest bears a heavy toll, paving the road to success on the bodies of the down-trodden. Sinclair tried to expose the entire system controlling America at the turn of the century. He introduced over 60 characters to show that people in all walks of life were traumatized and corrupted by the system.
The Jungle helps us understand the industrial revolution from the personal disadvantaged view of the proletariat. It is an expos of many ills, including specifically, vile practices of the meat-packing industry. Of his own work, Sinclair reported, |I wish to frighten the country by a picture of what its industrial masters were doing to their victims; entirely by chance I stumbled on another discovery – what they were doing to the meat supply of the civilized world. In other words, I aimed at the public+s heart, and by accident, I hit it in the stomach.X
This novel by Upton Sinclair is worth reading because it presents the history of turn-of-the-century America from a deeply personal view that goes well beyond events to penetrating comprehension. The study of history offers much more than the memorization of facts and Sinclair+s The Jungle exemplifies this, through historically-based, dramatized pathos. One is not obliged to believe in his socialist or anarchist views to appreciate the value of this pioneering work.
Другие работы по теме:
Vietman War Essay Research Paper The Viet
Vietman War Essay, Research Paper The Viet Cong were experts at the use of several unconventional battle tactics, namely, Guerilla Warfare. This is how they won many of the battles in the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong, during ground battles used small arms, some of which they had made themselves. Another technique they used was psychological warfare.
Heart Of Darkness Essay Research Paper Most
Heart Of Darkness Essay, Research Paper Most Literate people know that by going into the Heart of the Jungle, Conrad was trying to relay a message about the heart of man, and the story is worldly wide read as one of the
Heart Of Darkness 13 Essay Research Paper
In literature, contrasting places are used by certain authors as a way of representing opposed forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. We see this used in Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad as he applies the jungles of Africa, and Europe to develop the concept of “civilization” and “the heart of darkness” respectively.
King Kong Essay Research Paper KING KONG
King Kong Essay, Research Paper KING KONG 1933 An expedition crew exploring a remote island come upon a giant ape. The crew decides to capture the ape and take it back to New York for exhibition. The ape falls in love with a young beautiful actress who accompanied the expedition crew. King Kong?s love for the actress causes him to escape.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Quotes Essay Research Paper 2
Quotes Essay, Research Paper ——————————————————————————–I’ve been reading The Jungle for my U.S. Lit class. The Jungle is the story of a poor Lituanian family that comes to America and gos to work in Packingtown, the meat packing section of Chicago. It is a very interesting story about the corruption of the American dream and the injustice that plagues this contries economic system.Here I will put some of my favorite quotes and ideas for the book.
Things They Carried Essay Research Paper In
Things They Carried Essay, Research Paper In the story ?Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong? in The Things they Carried by Tim O? Brian Mary Ann Bell goes from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Ethnic Cleansing Essay Research Paper The first
Ethnic Cleansing Essay, Research Paper The first and most important human right is the right to live, but sometimes others bend the rules, and this is when genocide begins. Crimes against humanity have been around for many generations, including ours. The genocide against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 was because the Turkish authorities wanted to eliminate the Armenian presence in the country.
Comparison Of Stories Essay Research Paper The
Comparison Of Stories Essay, Research Paper The characters of A Sorrowful Woman and Tarzan of the Apes share a lot of similarities. In the case of Faye and Jane, they both are in love with their male counterparts although they don t show it. The women are involved in troubled relationships. Finally, Tarzan and Kai share the same attitude towards their partners respectfully.
Man Vs. Animal Animal Vs. Man
Essay, Research Paper I stalk My Prey. I am the master of the world. I sense everything. My eyes can see the fleas on an animal’s back two hundred metres away.
The Jungle Socialism Essay Research Paper The
The Jungle Socialism Essay, Research Paper The Jungle: Socialism During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s hundreds of thousands of European immigrants migrated to the United States of America. They had aspirations of success, prosperity and their own conception of the American Dream. The majority of the immigrants believed that their lives would completely change for the better and the new world would bring nothing but happiness.
Days Work Essay Research Paper I woke
Days Work Essay, Research Paper I woke up on a day with , the sun ,and my dog laying with this feet on my bed. I got up and got dressed and went down the steps.te some
Apocalypse Now Essay Research Paper 41800Weekly Writing
Apocalypse Now Essay, Research Paper 4/18/00 Weekly Writing- Apocalypse Now Apocalypse Now is a vivid account of Vietnam, and the damaging effects of the war, based on the novel by Joseph Conrad. The film takes the view down Nung River into Cambodia, where the darkness is discovered and civilized war ends.
Oppression In The Jungle And The Grapes
Of Wrath Essay, Research Paper In The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, and The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, the characters are forced with economic, social, and political problems that they must cope with throughout the story. Both books are similar in that they emphasize that in this country, one simply cannot win unless they play by nature’s rules.
Paired Text Essay Essay Research Paper War
Paired Text Essay Essay, Research Paper War is and always will be a horrible place to be in or at. We can learn this from the two war pieces of the film Platoon and the poetry of Wilfred Owen. The main theme in Platoon is of the loss of innocence caused by the war. Owens poetry is somewhat different. He displays and conveys the images of the harsh living conditions on the battlefields of France.
Rock N Roll Essay Research Paper title
Rock N Roll Essay, Research Paper title: Rock N RollWhile the exact time frame that the first strains of rock and roll music came bursting forth is nearly impossible to pinpoint, 1955 is arguably the year that it all began. On July 9 of that year, the new #1 single on the Best Sellers in Stores chart was (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets.
Lord Of The Flies And Heart Of
Darkness Essay, Research Paper A Comparison and Contrast of Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness Achebe uses positive tone in his description of the African jungle; whereas, Conrad makes use of negative connotations. Their portrayals of the jungle reflect their attitudes toward their subject; Achebe sees it as a hospitable home whereas Conrad sees a tragic trap.
Jungle 5 Essay Research Paper The Jungle
Jungle 5 Essay, Research Paper The Jungle, a novel by Upton Sinclair, contained many unique characters which were used as color for this story. The character of Jurgis Rudkis was the strong central character that the author developed as the cornerstone of this novel. The story was based on the life Rudkis led in the town of Packington.
Upton Sinclair Essay Research Paper READ ALL
Upton Sinclair Essay, Research Paper READ ALL ABOUT IT… UPTON SINCLAIR!! ?My cause is the Cause of a man who has never yet been defeated, and whose whole being is one all devouring,
The Misconceptions Of The Jungle By Upton
Sinclair Essay, Research Paper Upton Sinclair had always insisted that The Jungle was misread but did he ever think it could have been miswritten? The style of writing is not effective when addressing issues in a capitalistic society but proves to be very effective when exposing the secrets of the meatpacking industry.
The Jungle By Sinclair A Man Of
Many Colors Essay, Research Paper The Jungle by Sinclair: A Man of Many Colors There are often many sides to a person’s personality. Jurgis Rudkis of Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle, is no exception. Rudkis is a very
Upton Sinclairs Book The Jungle Essay Research
Paper Upton Sinclair, he wrote a book called “The Jungle”. The book was about the meat packing industry’s in Chicago. What would the city of Chicago’s meat industry be like without Upton Sinclair? The book described what the meat industry’s were putting in the meat that the people of Chicago ate back in the early 1900’s.
The Jungle 4 Essay Research Paper American
The Jungle 4 Essay, Research Paper American history has always been dominated by those individuals who have challenged themselves with causes. Sinclair used The Jungle as a way to make America aware of the corruption of Chicago s meat packing industry and the general corruption of capitalism. He did this by telling the story of a group of Lithuanian immigrants who came to America seeking fortune, freedom, and opportunity.
Henry James And The Beast In T
Essay, Research Paper The Beast in the Jungle is a story that expresses tragic irony and great loss. Henry James commences his story by introducing two characters: John Marcher and May Bartram. The two meet at a mansion, after a ten-year separation. The mansion is filled with decadent art, antiques, and other priceless objects.
GodLike Man Essay Research Paper Godlike MAnEver
God-Like Man Essay, Research Paper God-like MAnEver since the beginning of time, man has aspired to achieve god-like status. Adam was on of the earliest men to achieve this status; all he had to do was to dominate nature and to civilize his fellow man. Literature also provides a cornucopia of men that go through these same processes to become god-like.
Jungle Essay Research Paper As I opened
Jungle Essay, Research Paper As I opened the cover of The Jungle, I anticipated reading a tragic story about the cruelness inflicted upon a poor, working-class family. I
Jungle Essay Research Paper The Jungle written
Jungle Essay, Research Paper The Jungle, written by Upton Sinclair in 1905, the author supports Socialism over Capitalism and used the struggle to keep the house in order to portray the evils of Capitalism on the family and the society in General.
Jungle Essay Research Paper Upton Sinclair
Jungle Essay, Research Paper Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle is the tale of a Lithuanian immigrant, Jurgis Rudkus, and his family. Jurgis and his family move to the United States in the middle of
The Jungle Essay Research Paper Sinclair
The Jungle Essay, Research Paper Sinclair’s book ,The Jungle probably had to do the most with the fact that he himself was a Socialist. He was brought up in Baltimore, and
Meat Facorties From The 1920S (The Jungle)
) Essay, Research Paper Meat Factories! How Disgusting! Meat factories have been recently under sedge because of how things are done. The whole ordeal started with the unions? workers strike for more pay. From there this situation just got worse. Labor spies had been infiltrated into the union, meaning that the executives knew what was going on before it happened.
Auto Wreck Essay Research Paper Auto WreckPhilosophers
Auto Wreck Essay, Research Paper Auto Wreck Philosophers have pondered the meaning of life and death since the beginning of time. There are many hypotheses. From reincarnation to Valhalla then on to heaven. There have been many proposed solutions. Yet no one fully understands dea th. In Shapiro s poem “Auto Wreck,” he illustrates the irrationality of life for it can be taken away at any given time for no rational reason.
The Grapes Of Wrath And The Jungle
: A Comparison Essay, Research Paper The Jungle and The Grapes of Wrath appear to be two very different books. One tells the story of immigrants working amidst the horrors of the meat packing plants of Chicago at the turn of the century. The other is placed in California during the Great Depression, depicting one family’s struggle to survive.