Preview

The Jungle

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
951 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Jungle
THE JUNGLE: Essay
In the year of 1906 Upton Sinclair published a book called THE JUNGLE, which takes place in Chicago. In Sinclair’s book THE JUNGLE Sinclair uses many different ways to persuade Americans to turn to socialism. Socialism is any various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. In other words socialism is when everyone has to combine the money that they’ve earned then the government divides it equally among all workers. A few ways Sinclair persuades Americans to turn to Socialism is by telling the readers about the experience of immigrants, meat sanitation, and labor unions and strikes. Those are all ways socialism is proven to be more sufficient than capitalism. The experiences of immigrants coming to America are terrible. Immigrants came to America in search of a better life but because capitalism enslaved them, by low wages, dangerous working conditions, and injuries; they started to believe they never would have a better life. Immigrant’s wages were so low that women and children had to work and sometimes work at jobs that were not fit for women or children (p.66). Immigrants had so little money that they had to lie about their child’s age just so they could work and help their parents with some bills and other expenses. Working conditions were very poor women lifting 14 pound cans all day and men working in dangerous chemicals (p.65&66). Families lost their homes due to the death of a key wage earner through accident or illness, they were kicked out their homes, missing even one month of payment meant eviction and the forfeiture of everything paid on it. Also because wages were so low no one was ever really home everyone got up to go and work. There was no quality time spent with the family because when everyone is home there is always stress or exhaustion about paying the next bill, or the question of how are we going

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Upton Sinclair has famously remarked, “All art is propaganda. It is universally and inescapably propaganda; sometimes unconsciously, but often deliberately, propaganda.” These words are especially befitting for Sinclair’s most famous novel, The Jungle. Sinclair’s novel follows the devastating collapse of an immigrant Lithuanian family as a result of the ruthless practices of capitalism. Thus, The Jungle is a severe critique of capitalism, and it possesses the intention of persuading readers to adopt the views of the socialism. With this objective in mind, the book has been heavily classified as a piece of socialist propaganda by many critics. Sinclair’s goal to convert readers to socialism failed for the most part, however, but the novel did help pass landmark legislation dealing with food safety conditions. The Jungle as a piece of socialist propaganda ultimately fails as the result of various factors including Sinclair’s biased argument against capitalism,…

    • 1603 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    In The Jungle, he presented the reader with the Rudkus family who encountered a great deal of strife and anguish, through which the evils of American capitalism were portrayed. Upton Sinclair strongly believed in the power of the Socialist party as means of reform, so that the working class would finally have a fair chance of survival against the harsh realms of society. By havocking America 's supposed capitalist induced problems upon Jurgis and his family, Upton Sinclair used The Jungle as means of socialist promotional propaganda.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oscar Handlin declared immigrants were alienated from their old country, but also America, which was their ray of hope. Moreover, as they crossed into the U.S., desperately looking for a better lifestyle, they encountered multiple atrocious bosses, lived in trite poverty, and was also treated unfairly from the Americans. Despite hardship, “[t]he only adjustment they had been able to make to life in the United States had been one that involved the separateness of their group, one that increased their awareness of the differences between themelves and the rest of the society” (92). No where left to go, immigrants had no choice but to adjust in this new lifestlye and consciously condemning themselves as outsiders.…

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some people view capitalism as an evil form of government, and favor Socialism. One of these people being Upton Sinclair, author of the novel The Jungle. In the novel The Jungle, Upton Sinclair illustrates capitalism as evil and goes out of his way to show how awful a capitalist country can be. He writes about a Lithuanian family who comes to America in hopes of a better life, but their dreams are soon crushed by the reality of the countries capitalist ways. As soon as the family arrives to Packingtown, Chicago they realize how awful the living and working conditions are. The main characters, Jurgis and Ona get married and have a child. One of the family members, Marija, even begins prostituting to help support the family.…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Immigrants Horrible Lives Have you ever wondered if you are related to one of the immigrants in the 1900’s? The immigrants had a dreadful life at this time. Immigrants were brave because they crossed the ocean and went through the checkpoint at Ellis Island. To start the immigrants take an awful voyage across the ocean. Immigrants had a lousy boat ride to get to America.…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Life for immigrants was very difficult in the 20th century. Most immigrants immigrated to America in attempt to escape conditions in their previous country and also, in…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The jungle

    • 1429 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Jungle, written by: Upton Sinclair, looks under the microscope at the deplorable conditions under which the people who lived and worked at Chicago's Union Stockyards were subjected to. along with the impact those conditions had on an emigrant family from Eastern Europe. Its plot takes in the Packingtown district. During the early 20th Century the migration of European immigrants to America's Midwest was prolific. What they found was oppression, dehumanization and exploitation. Working the stockyards offered these immigrants a first glimpse at what the United States would eventually reveal. They were enticed by stories of wealth and opportunity and tired of the remnants of feudalism and classicism that existed in their homelands. The industrial revolution was still in its infancy and owners of large corporations thought themselves purveyors of the American ideal. Sinclair describes the brutal conditions that these immigrants found and the cold reality of life in the United States. This book reveals a look at an America that still has resonance today.…

    • 1429 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When one place has better resources, opportunities, and living conditions than the current place, it makes sense for someone to migrate to the better land. That better land in today’s world is the land of opportunity-- America. This nation is one founded on immigrants. The founding fathers came from Europe with hope and ambition for a better life for them and their children. Today, people immigrate for the same reason. The difference is that immigration is now looked at with a negative eye. Immigrants now are often blamed for the hardships of American citizens. Immigrants receive accusations of stealing the jobs of American citizens. They also face discrimination and are under represented in congress. Immigrants are also blamed for overwhelming democratic support, which deteriorates the accuracy of who the American citizens want for president. Despite all of these negative views on immigrants, immigrants are not actually that bad for America. People who see immigrants as toxic for America fail to remember all of the times they have benefitted America. The benefits Mexican immigrants bring to the US outweigh the harm they may bring.…

    • 1679 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Jungle

    • 1072 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the book “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair the author gives a critique of the early twentieth century labor practices in the growing cities of the United States. It gives people an opportunity to see all the factors that were going on not only in the meatpacking industry, but also the way working people lived and all the challenges that they had to overcome to just be able to survive. It also shows how the working conditions are in the city of Chicago. It shows how workers did their tasks in unsanitary conditions. The book would say that they would be working and rats would be passing by and because they were so tired they did not care anymore.…

    • 1072 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dust Bowl In America

    • 1354 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Migrant workers are laborers that move around to jobs for anyone work that needs to be done (Carson and Bonk). People were so desperate to get a chance to provide for their family. They would usually work temporary jobs and move around according to what job they were assigned to (Carson and Bonk). When they had to move it was because of their following of any commission they could collect, if they had a family, they would have to pick up their life and bring it on the road. Mostly immigrants took these jobs because they’re very difficult and labor induced work (Carson and Bonk). They only got small opportunities for work, since they were just coming to America. The life of a migrant worker was at times extremely difficult. Migrant workers take hard undesirable work, which improves the economy, yet the work is labor induced and extremely difficult (Carson and Bonk). They are also put in very dangerous situations like fires, explosions, and debris falling because of their dirty and laborious jobs which leads to critical injuries, and they couldn’t afford medical care(Carson and Bonk). Many workers risked their lives, doing any level of work for a paycheck. They constantly have to move around to accommodate the different jobs around the country or region where work is wanted (Carson and Bonk). The life of a migrant worker is filled with constant change and the dangers of getting hurt. These migrant…

    • 1354 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    But soon upon arriving, they realized that America was not the same land they expected. They faced many hardships and living conditions were bad. Often, immigrants left their native countries because of push factors such as war, famine, hard times, political and/or religious persecution, poverty and the government. These immigrants listened and heard about stories of America. Before I came to America once I was told that people in America got paid for everything—even for voting, for being born there and anyone who went to America can become rich but after I got to the united state I just realized that what I heard back home was just a propaganda I faced many hardships like May and pearl did on their first arrival. Millions of immigrants packed their bags and traveled to this land of freedom in search of jobs, a better education, and a new life. But up on arriving many immigrants faced many hardships. Some even got stressed and commit a suicide and some decided not to stay and left America and went back…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    1920s

    • 1502 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Low wages, unemployment, disease, forced military conscription, and religious persecution all inspired immigrants to flee their homelands and come to the United States. These immigrants were inspired to come to America by its reputation as the "Land Of Liberty" and also by the inspiring letters of friends and relatives already in the United States. These "New Immigrants" fleeing poverty and persecution faced difficulties in assimilating into American culture that they were not. Most could not speak English, nor were they literate in their own language. They came from non-democratic governments and were often distrustful of government, and ended up in a a similar situation in America with political machines, and thief’s. Immigrants during this period crammed into cities in the Northeast, and created small ethnic communities where they preserved the culture of their homelands. With many fleeing Americans, there could have been a worse time to migrate, due to harsh working and living conditions, and new immigration restriction laws, the many negatives outweigh the positives for the new immigrants.…

    • 1502 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Jungle

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Nature and economics move in similar cycles throughout history. Prey grows exponentially unless there is a limiting factor, such as predators or food sources. Companies grow until they do not have resources to grow. Companies as a group compete with each other, as well as with the consumers and producers in order to maximize profits and minimize waste. Waste might be employees who are not producing fast enough or physical items which are discarded instead of being reused or sold in another way. Pure capitalism as a whole is destructive to the proletariat.…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jungle animals

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jungles and rainforests are similar, but while rainforests have thick canopies of tall trees that block out light, jungles allow more light in, making it easier for plants to grow.…

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Jungle

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Being an athlete is all about staying healthy, and making sure your body is capable of doing the sport that you do. Keeping the body healthy will let you have the energy and stamina you need to have a good performance. Also practicing and training your body to maintain a good body weight is also a healthy way to keep your body intact. But then there’s people who try to get pass the practicing and training and try to find another way to stay fit. That other way is called steroids, steroids is a drug that helps enhance the body in a very bad way. People who take steroids start to have severe side effects that will affect their lives forever. Athletes who take steroids may take steroids as a way to build their performance, but what athletes fail to realize that after the use of steroids has taken its part when you start to age, your body starts to go through horrible changes, and also the body is in risk of life taking diseases. For the young athletes I will tell you the importance of why using drugs are bad for your body, and also I will tell you what side effects come with the use of drugs like steroids, marijuana or the misuse of painkillers.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays