The Jungle

The Jungle By Upton Sinclair

Description

Picture courtesy of http://museum.nist.gov/object.asp?ObjID=45

I aimed at the public’s heart and by accident I hit it in the stomach.
Upton Sinclair

About the Author

Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) was born in Baltimore, Maryland and started writing when he was a teen living in New York City. Sinclair graduated in 1897 from College of the City of New York. He was a socialist and a muckraker, which is why the majority of his writings contain messages of classism and the plight of laborers. In 1906, with the proceeds from The Jungle, Sinclair established Helicon Home Colony, a socialist community in New Jersey. He went on to run for governor of California twice, win a Pulitzer Prize for Dragon’s Teeth (1942), and write more than 80 books. Sinclair died in 1968 while living in Arizona (Sinclair, Upton).

Plot Summary

The Jungle follows the life of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant, and his family as they struggle to survive in Chicago. The family came in search of the American Dream, but, to their dismay, fined that workers are poorly paid, forced to work in deplorable conditions, and are the victims of unfair labor practices. Through Rudkus, The Jungle explores corruption and the filthy secrets of the meatpacking industry. Tragic events force Rudkus to leave Chicago, only to return to the city penniless. In order to survive Rudkus becomes a criminal. During his criminal career, Rukus helps politicians buy votes and sees how corrupt the political system is in Chicago. After another run in with the law, Rudkus is exposed to socialism. Socialism provides an explanation for Rudkus’ suffering and he becomes obsessed with the movement. Rudkus is able to support the remaining members of his family after finding a good job at a Socialist run hotel. The Jungle ends with one of the Socialist leaders espousing the virtues of socialism and the evils of capitalism (The Jungle Book Notes).

Social Significance

Sinclair, a muckracker and ardent socialist, wrote The Jungle as an attack on capitalism and to bring public attention to the plight of the working class. Sinclair was hoping that his book would instigate a public outcry for changes to labor laws. The Jungle did create a public outcry, but it was over the unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry. The public outcry, which was a direct result of The Jungle, caused Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 and the 1906 Meat Packing Inspection Act (Law).

Additional Links

Progressive Era
Meat Inspection Act of 1906
Muckrakers
Anti-Classism Movements

Here is a population, low-class and mostly foreign, hanging always on the verge of starvation and dependent for its opportunities of life upon the whim of men every bit as brutal and unscrupulous as the old-time slave drivers; under such circumstances, immorality is exactly as inevitable, and as prevalent, as it is under the system of chattel slavery. Chapter 10, pg. 126

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