Upton Sinclair: The Jungle

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Subject DD MM YYYY Upton Sinclair: The Jungle The Jungle is a novel written in 1904 by Upton Sinclair and published in 1906. Upton Sinclair was an American journalist, novelist and social crusader seeking political influence to change the lives of the society. The book exposes the horrible working conditions in the American meat packaging industry that operated in unhygienic conditions and violation of the health of the workers and the packaged meat. Famous and effective was the novel that improvements on the working conditions of slaughterhouses in America kicked off immediately with the 1906 legislation of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Upton Sinclair gives the reader a preview of the life of an immigrant in America in the twentieth century in their quest to realize the American dream and the reality of harsh working conditions and an endless quest for survival in an unkind land. Upton Sinclair’s initial agenda for the novel was to demonstrate the significance of socialism in American society against Capitalism in improving the quality of life. However, the author’s focus on the plight of immigrants, the unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, poor healthcare, ravaging poverty and overall hopelessness depicted by the workers caught the attention of the audience. Summary The novel starts with the excitement when Jurgis marries Ona, an immigrant family with big prospects of fulfilling the American dream for themselves and their family. Money troubles set in immediately after the wedding with the family owed much money spent during their party. None of the other immigrant attendees contribute to the party. Jurgis finds work in Packingtown, a meatpacking area in Chicago, where other immigrants also work. Jurgis is unable to provide for his large family, and soon other members join the job search. Jurgis finds the workplace unbearable with poor working conditions. The young family falls prey to conmen after buying a cheap slum house and soon evicted losing their money in the process. The author portrays the apparent moral decay where thievery, bribery, extortion, and selfishness are common. The police and politicians are also corrupt, worsening the conditions for the people. Poor working conditions lead to work-related accidents, and Jurgis’ father dies as a result. Kristoforas, one of the children, dies shortly after following a case of food poisoning. Jurgis is fired from his position following an accident. Jurgis also discovers that his boss, Connor, sought sexual favors with Ona guaranteeing her and her family a chance to continue working. Jurgis is arrested and imprisoned after attacking Connor. Conditions are worse off after his arrest, and the family is evicted from their house and now reside in a boarding house. Ona, together with her infant, died at childbirth aged 18. Abject poverty prevented Jurgis from seeking help from a doctor leading to their death. After his first child drowns in a muddy street, Jurgis leaves the city and starts drinking. After some time, Jurgis is back to Chicago doing multiple jobs and engaging in a conning spree. He realizes the desperation in his family in the city. He discovers that Ona’s cousin named Marija is a prostitute and already addicted to morphine while the oldest child in the larger family had died after being locked in their workplace. Jurgis comes into contact with a socialist crusader who helps find a community and...