Jungle Corruptions of Capitalism
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The book The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, describes the working conditions and everyday life of an early 1900 immigrant family from Lithuania. This book was written as a result of a direct experience that Sinclair wanted to transform from non-fiction to fiction. Sinclair wrote articles for a socialist newspaper in 1904 called Appeal to Reason. He spent several weeks in Chicago observing stockyard workers and their families which, consequently, was the inspiration for The Jungle. His ultimate goal was to expose the effects of capitalism on a working class society. The background of the book and the use of characterization and setting will be discussed, as well as a final evaluation
The Jungle begins with two Lithuanian immigrants, Jurgis Rudkus and Ona Lukoszaites, on their wedding day in Packingtown, which is located in Chicago. They moved to America with great faith in the American Dream and hopes for a better future. They are automatically in debt at least one hundred dollars from the wedding feast and Jurgis promises to work hard in order to earn it all back. Jurgis and Ona see a great deal on a house and decide to purchase it with their family; Marija, Jonas, Teta Elzbieta, Stanislovas, and Jurgis' father, Dede Antanas. The house puts them into debt further due to hidden costs, like taxes and unforseen repairs...