The Jungle

Paper Summary:

The paper critically analyzes the structure of Upton Sinclair's novel, "The Jungle", including cultural illusions, narrative point of view, time structures, themes and motifs and irony. The paper shows how Upton Sinclair used these devices to help make the story more believable, to bring it alive for the reader. The paper relates that the main themes of the novel are survival, the ability to choose and live decently in a free society and the value of Socialism. The paper describes how the immigrants and their families were robbed of their free will and dignity when they worked in the packinghouses. The paper reveals that the book was so influential that it created a national scandal and created the national Pure Food and Drug Act, which began government inspection of all aspects of the meatpacking and other food industries.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps the most ironic situation in the book is the situation of the Lukoszaite family, who emigrate to American from Lithuania to create a better life for themselves. Instead, they found horrible working and living conditions, an increasing inability to make ends meet, and one by one, the family falls to misfortune and death. This leads to bitterness and unhappiness in the extended family and creates a sense of incongruity and disbelief in Jurgis, the hero of the tale. Early in the book Jurgis is cocky and full of life and hope for the future, but it does not take him long to see the true situation in the stockyard plants."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. New York: Doubleday, Page, 1906.

More papers on The Jungle:

• Book Review # 93471 : "Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"
• Analytical Essay # 89549 : "Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"
• Book Review # 119163 : "The Role of Capitalism in "The Jungle"
• Persuasive Essay # 72975 : "Stephen Crane's "Maggie" and Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"

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