Upton Sinclairs Book The Jungle - Essay Example

There is a family just like every family in America and has just as much right to ‘the pursuit of happiness’ as everyone who lives in this country. Ona’s death and the death of their child cause Jurgis to lead a life of begging and crime, illustrating how it is the system’s willing abuse of the ‘common man’ that creates problems for the criminal lower class while the upper class becomes just as criminal in working to abuse the system for their own welfare. The concept of socialism is first introduced as Ona and Jurgis are planning their wedding feast and grows to become one of the central themes of the book.

It is Grandmother Majauzskiene who first mentions the word “Socialist” to Jurgis. She describes the capitalist system: “It was easy to bring them, for wages were really much higher, and it was only when it was too late that the poor people found out that everything else was higher too. They were like rats in a trap, that was the truth” (95). It would seem clear that whatever she defines herself as would be the opposite of the system in place. Just before she introduces the word socialism, though, a suggestion of what it might mean is offered, “By and by they would have their revenge, though, for the thing was getting beyond human endurance, and the people would rise and murder the packers” (95). This seems to suggest something violent and destructive, which frightens the simple man.

Jurgis learns more about socialism through Bush Harper. Harper characterizes socialists as people who “could not be bought and would not combine or make any sort of a ‘dicker’” (384). Later, Jurgis suddenly finds himself at the center of a Socialist rally and, more surprisingly, becomes caught up in the words that are said. As the speaker denounces the capitalist system, which has already been battered brutally throughout the novel, the ideas of Socialism are brought forward. The way that Sinclair presents them makes them seem not nearly as frightening as the ideas of Communism has been to the modern reader. He talks about how the Socialists would give more power to the people, would provide them would good food, clothing, and good jobs that did not force sick men or pregnant women to work.

In this speech near the end of the book, one can trace a lot of the ideas in politics today – healthcare for everyone and fair wages, etc. – and begin to understand how the American system has gone a little crazy with giving companies power and taking all opportunity away from the regular people. Just like the immigrants were not able to get good jobs or fair treatment when they first came to America, the system today allows a lot of freedom and corruption because there are no regulations. Read More