Analyzing Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

The Jungle written by Upton Sinclair can be considered one of the most influential novels written at the beginning of the 20th century. Though largely known as the book that resulted in the creation of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, The Jungle illustrated the harsh working conditions and ruthless competition that plagued the meat-packing plants in Chicago. Sinclair’s original intention for writing the book was to point out the flaws of capitalism, the greed that plagued society, and the poor imprisoned wage-slaves that struggled with starvation, disease, and the purpose behind their lives.
The novel is centered around the tragic yet surprisingly common life of an immigrant worker by the name of Jurgis Rudkus. He first
began his voyage to America with great optimism and hope for a better life with his rather large extended family. When first presented with the overwhelming debt that he has collected, he is noted for saying, “It will not matter to us. We will pay them all somehow. I will work harder.” Despite his best efforts while working in the brutal working conditions of the meatpacking district of Chicago, he could hardly even get by with no room to spare for luxury. The house payments that were causing this great misery could barely even be considered as mortgaging a shack.
Sadly, as with all dramatic plot lines, Jurgis loses his father, gigantic disappointments batter the family, he injures his ankle and cannot return to work, his wife is defiled by his boss, and Jurgis goes to prison for beating him. After coming home to the remains of his family, he soon loses his wife in the birth of his second child, loses his son in a drowning accident, becomes a hobo, turns into a criminal, enters the corrupt political arena, beats the man who defiled his wife again, goes on the lamb, and soon becomes a socialist with “the wild and wonderful spirit of it seized upon him”. It then concludes with the final exclamations of, “Chicago will be ours! Chicago will be ours!” After looking back upon these final words, I believe, the general consensus is that this book had more to do with the progressive ideas that emerged during the era than that of the sick and tainted beef that filled the American market. Jurgis was the quintessential workingman of the time. Though hard to realize, or maybe not, it was very likely that Socialist Party of America could have tipped the scales into turning America from a republic to a socialist state.
Times were rough for the poor and starving. However, this was not the case for all. The most striking contrast is given when Jurgis is invited by a rather drunk socialite walking the streets to come into his mansion. While there, Jurgis identifies the stranger as the son of one of the meat packing plant owners. He is given warmth, loads of food, and witnesses the utter extravagance that flourishes in the easy lifestyle that is built upon his hard work and sacrifices.
Though Jurgis can receive much sympathy for all that has happened in his life, what should be realized is that he partook in the filth that diseased the minds of men and caved into corruption. The environment that surrounded him was inarguably disgusting, but the question that should be asked is whether it is appropriate at any time to not stand by the moral guidelines that define you. Was it right for Jurgis to just simply give up on all hope and leave after his son died? Could there have been a better option?
When Jurgis returns to visit his cousin-in-law, Marija, he is stricken with grief and horror after realizing that she has become a prostitute to support the family. “Yet when he had thought of all humanity as vile and hideous, he had somehow always excepted his own family that he had loved; and now this sudden horrible discovery – Marija a whore, and Elzbieta and the children living off her shame!” Was Marija forced to work in those squalid conditions or was it a matter of her choice?
The questions presented in the story do give the sense of what freedom can be defined as.
The enquiries I proposed above only present more distress and critical thinking than it does answers. Of course, I am disqualified from answering any of these questions. I’ve never faced a real challenge in my life. However, he main themes that I attempted to center my thoughts around were equality, opportunity, liberty, and happiness. The Jungle is a great book to look over when wanting to experience the other side of both the economic and political side of the spectrum. Its plot was lengthy though, and Sinclair’s writing style seemed more to focus on the hardships and mental anguish that Jurgis faced rather than eloquent words and descriptions that are usually expected. The general impression that was made after just finishing the book was that I just read a piece of socialist propaganda, which I did.
Overall though, when the socialist cries tore through the cold, wintery air of Chicago, what were they saying? Freedom doesn’t necessarily mean “free stuff”. Finding purpose by accomplishing goals is ultimately what leads to a feeling of success in life. Whether Jurgis believed this or not is up to your own interpretation of the passages in the book. It was a good
read.