Paper Summary:

This analytical essay discusses how the ideology of capitalism in the early 20th century is attacked and exposed in the novel "The Jungle" written by Upton Sinclair. The author of the paper argues that the detailed collapse of Jurgis's family in the novel shows the evils inherent in the system of capitalism and promotes socialism as the solution to the corruption.

From the Paper:

"In the novel the Lithuanian family came to America with the assumption that through hard honest work an individual will earn high wages, in turn guaranteeing that person a good life. Jurgis tries to assimilate into the American way of life by being the father figure of a nuclear family and working hard and long hours to support his family. Jurgis' first step towards achieving the American dream was acquiring a job at Durham meatpacking industry where he swept entrails of slaughtered cattle. The sanitary conditions were horrendous but Jurgis was more than satisfied because he was making an income. The reader realizes that Jurgis' low wages and poor working conditions are not adequate in response to the labor he is performing. The author purposely does this to show the reader how these immigrants were taken advantage of by the corrupt system. The first major swindle that the family faced was upon purchasing a home. The false advertisement and greed of the broker tricked Jurgis into believing that he would own a four bedroom home at the set price of 15 dollars a month. The broker knew the hidden fees such as the water bill and interest on the debt would end up costing Jurgis 20 dollars a month, but in this unregulated capitalistic system the only way to get ahead was to take advantage of the less knowledgeable folks like Jurgis. When sickness and job loss hit the family they were evicted out of their house for missing one month's pay and a new family was immediately moved in a week later. Sinclair's overall goal is to show the reader that in capitalism only the investor is prosperous on the account of other peoples suffering. Sinclair gradually exposes how many people became a tool in the system of capitalism and lost their sense of morality due to the hard times they faced. The Lithuanian family was manipulated by the employers ranging from rape to low and unfair wages. The broker who sold them the house also deceived them into buying a house they couldn't afford. The honesty and willingness to work hard is tarnished after being a victim of the system of capitalism. Sinclair purposely embellishes on how hard work and family values are what Americans claim to be the formula of achieving the American dream. The author proves the reader otherwise by using the experiences that Jurgis and all the immigrants around him face to show that the product of capitalism is the opposite of American value. Sinclair points at one solution to fix the mess capitalism has created: socialism."

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