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Socialism In Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'

Satisfactory Essays

Gabriella Kurrus
Mr. Kohler
Advanced LA II Second Hour
4 October 2017
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair was a novel written to display the crudeness of Chicago’s big business. It tells the life of Jurgis Rudkus, who moves to Chicago, Illinois from Lithuania. He faces many health and employment related issues in his new life. Upton Sinclair uses capitalism as a symbol of evil, and corruption, he does this by telling the health, and employment related issues Jurgis and his family have, while socialism is symbolized as angelic and bright. What should have been a clear beginning after Jurgis’ wedding, was actually great turmoil. Health issues affected Jurgis Rudkus directly throughout his life, many due to the disregard for immigrants trying to start their lives in America. The job his father is forced into is too much for the old man, and kills him before he is able to work for long. During Jurgis’ first winter in Chicago, the meat factory he works in is unheated and he is always taking the chance of contracting a great sickness. Some time later, he turns to alcohol as a way of self medicating for the horrible work he does at the fertilizer plant. Ona, Jurgis’s wife, dies during the birth of her premature child, due to sexual assault committed by her boss. Employment also plays a role in supporting the evil outlook of capitalism. During this time, many …show more content…

He told the hardships of Jurgis and his family’s lives, who came here for the American dream, only to realize what it was really like for an immigrant trying to establish himself. Sinclair used examples of occupation, illness, and a new, hopeful idea as symbols. These symbols supported the idea that capitalism was dangerous, and needed to be limited. Following the publishing of this book, many laws were set in place in favor of the workers, to give them better conditions to work in, and fair

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