The Jungle: A close examination Essay Example

political machine in the Chicago packing yards. During elections, he receives bribes to vote under multiple false identities, earning him four dollars, equivalent to a week's worth of work. Additionally, he is paid five dollars to collect paychecks for nonexistent city workers. Later on, Jurgis becomes entangled in the political machine himself, becoming one of its operatives in the packing yards. However, when he ends up in jail, he is coerced into buying his way out and essentially loses everything he has. This experience leaves him feeling inadequate and empty about his life as a vagabond again. He longs for his previous extravagant lifestyle and questions how he could have existed without it.

Another character facing the drawbacks of capitalism is Marija. She is coerced into a life of prostitution and drug abuse due to the cutthroat nature of capitalism. At first, she must bribe forewomen at meat plants to secure employment there. As Marija tries to support her family while Jurgis is absent, she reluctantly turns to prostitution as it becomes her only available job option. Living in a brothel leads her down a path of addiction to morphine and she realizes unexpected consequences such as having a significant portion of her income allocated towards housing expenses during this time period.In Chicago, the prevalent capitalist mindset leaves a woman realizing she cannot adequately provide for her family. Faced with the choice between starving on the streets or becoming a prostitute, she concludes that prostitution is preferable. Meanwhile, Tita Elizbieta and her adolescent children attempt to find employment but only manage a feeble effort, leading them to move in with acquaintances. In the final chapter of

the novel, Marija gives up hope and resigns herself to remaining where she is until her death.

The novel depicts characters who show how capitalism brutalizes and corrupts society. The harsh effects of capitalism push readers towards socialism as conflict arises between different social classes - specifically between proletarians and gentry. From ancient Egyptian pharaohs and slaves to industrial wage-slavery, this conflict has been prominent throughout history.

Just like Moses saved enslaved Egyptians, socialism is portrayed as the savior for the working class. Its roots are believed to be found in early Christianity when followers rejected individual ownership and embraced socialist principles in their daily lives (239). These lower-class workers are treated as if they were animals by heartless bosses lacking compassion or empathy.When a man was scalded by a piece of hot steel, he did not receive any compensation and was not even allowed to return to his job after recovering. Jurgis and the proletarians are stuck in low-paying jobs with long hours because of a small group of wealthy individuals. These individuals practice vertical integration, giving them complete control over every aspect of the industrial process. An example of this is seen in the meatpacking industry, which involves shipping, slaughtering, and packing hogs, as well as occasionally bribing government meat inspectors. According to socialists like Sinclair, industries should be divided into smaller units to promote individual or collective ownership (Ebenstein 242). This economic system would give people like Jurgis and Marija control over their own futures instead of being under the power of greedy employers. It is reasonable to believe that if Jurgis and Marija had control over their own destinies, they might have been

successful. The conflict between individuals and society becomes clear as Jurgis fights against the competitive nature of capitalism. At first, Jurgis seems to have an advantage due to his strong physique when looking for work. However, his physical strength declines after an injury, making it difficult for him to find employment and causing him to rely on support from women and children in his family. He often gets overlooked by employers due to the high number of job seekers.(23). The sheer number of individuals makes finding employment nearly impossible. Moreover, the author's point of view effectively convinces readers to lean towards socialism. A third person omniscient narrator summarizes most events in the novel. This narrative style is employed by Sinclair in his summary narrative, where he avoids dramatizing any events. One striking example is how Sinclair describes the process of slaughtering hogs and transforming them into various products. He also portrays policemen and strikebreakers with ambiguity. Through this technique, Sinclair successfully showcases the impact of capitalism from different individuals' perspectives using a god-like narrator. This combination of viewpoints strengthens his socialist beliefs within the novel. The second narrator goes into further detail about certain unfolding events in the story. Similar to an aside in a play, it feels as if Sinclair himself has entered the narrative to convey a message to readers. This narrator is used when Sinclair believes that a traditional narrator isn't enough.In muckraking passages, Sinclair uses the revelation of information in newspaper articles to show that Jurgis could not have known about certain events. Sinclair emphasizes the widespread interest in Jurgis' beer hunting feat by stating that millions of people were following

his story and it even became a topic for editorials in many business newspapers. This shows how the second narrator intermittently informs the reader about Jurgis' experiences and his surroundings. Throughout the novel, Sinclair explores various themes, both major and minor. One significant theme is how America has transformed into a metaphorical jungle due to materialism and intense competition during the 1900s. Sinclair effectively conveys his ideas through this theme. When he describes the large number of individuals waiting for job opportunities, he illustrates the naturalistic aspect of the packing yards. It becomes clear that these people have very little chance of finding employment or surviving in Chicago's harsh environment. Sinclair's goal is to eliminate this naturalistic existence and replace it with democratic socialism. Under democratic socialism, big businesses would no longer exist as they are now, but instead be regulated versions managed by families or individuals.
Sinclair argues that under socialism, the naturalistic state would no longer exist as it provides an opportunity for common people to survive. Theme is used throughout the novel by Sinclair to convey his message, with a significant one being the idea of businesses being granted to the public and run democratically. This becomes more prominent in the second half of the book, but there are only a few mentions of socialism at the beginning. The first reference occurs when a wise old woman enlightens characters about being deceived by their house-selling company. Socialism is discussed more frequently as the story progresses, and in the final chapter, it becomes clear that even among socialists there is no unanimity. This lack of agreement is exemplified by a socialist orator and Comrade

Ostrinski introducing Jurgis to socialism, which acts as a turning point from despair to optimism in the novel's overall tone. Sinclair also highlights promising strides made by socialism in Chicago and other parts of the country through incorporating statistics into his nonfiction-like writing style seen particularly in this chapter and others.Furthermore, Sinclair's inclusion of a United States Live Stock Ordinance footnote on page 116 demonstrates his intention to present indisputable facts through the use of statistics. His nonfiction approach effectively showcases why socialism is superior to the current governmental system. In addition to major themes, Sinclair also incorporates minor themes throughout the novel. One such theme explores the plight of those at the bottom of the social hierarchy, who function as wage slaves following their masters' commands. This is particularly evident when Ona is coerced into having sexual relations with her boss, Phil Conner, who holds a position in the political machine. Jurgis retaliates by attacking Conner but his side of the story remains unheard due to collusion between the judge and Conner, both involved in deceiving the public. Sinclair uses this incident as an example to highlight how leaders within politics and big business exhibit callousness. This minor theme aligns with the major theme that competition and greed have transformed America into a jungle-like environment. Another minor theme presented by Sinclair argues that industrial capitalism functions as an efficient and impersonal killing machine that disregards human life entirely. The brutal treatment endured by workers in the factory serves as evidence for this concept according to Sinclair's writing: "Worst of any, however, were the fertilizer-men, and those who served in cooking rooms."These individuals were deemed

unfit for visitor observation due to their overpowering odor. The text highlights the hazardous working conditions faced by men in tank rooms and the lack of concern from their boss. Workers frequently fell into open vats filled with steam, resulting in fatalities and their remains being used for commercial purposes. This grim reality reflects the workers' desperate struggle for survival within a profit-driven industry. Sinclair effectively uses metaphors and similes, comparing characters to animals such as Jurgis being likened to a wounded bull and Conner to a formidable beast. These comparisons contribute to an intense atmosphere reminiscent of a jungle, depicting the ruling class as dominant hunters while portraying the lower class as vulnerable prey. This evokes empathy from readers and sheds light on the plight of these workers.

Furthermore, Sinclair's skillful use of sensory details immerses readers in the story, enhancing their experience.In his novel "The Jungle," Upton Sinclair employs olfactory, auditory, and visual imagery to vividly portray the dreadful smell at the dump and capture the sounds of instruments at a wedding celebration.However, it is through visual imagery that Sinclair primarily conveys his message.He meticulously describes every step of the slaughtering process, allowing readers to witness firsthand how hogs are killedThe purpose of this detailed account is to give readers a firsthand understanding of the events and create a sense of being present. Additionally, Sinclair's novel aims to highlight the virtues of socialism, expose the injustices of capitalism, and shed light on the struggles faced by workers in Chicago's packing yards. The book's graphic nature led to significant reforms in food regulations and workers' rights, including laws against child labor and shorter work weeks.

Sinclair utilizes various literary techniques such as characters, conflicts, point of view, theme, and style to steer readers towards embracing socialism. Widely considered one of the most influential proletarian novels ever written, its impact cannot be overlooked by both American writers and readers (Bloodworth 64).