Sinclair's Purpose in Writing "The Jungle"
Upton Sinclair wrote this book for a couple of reasons. First
and foremost, he tries to awaken the reader to the terrible
living conditions of immigrants in the cities around the turn of
the century. Chicago has the most potent examples of these
conditions. Secondly, he attempts to show the advantages of
socialism in helping to remedy the problems of a society such as
the one that exists in Chicago at this time.
Sinclair accomplishes his objectives with an extremely
powerful story. Jurgis Rudkus and his family seem to be an
average immigrant family of the period. They are not wealthy and
they are easily fooled by schemes designed to take what little
they have. The language barrier encountered by these people is a
major factor in allowing them to be swindled. The immigrants of
this period tend to trust anyone who is fluent in their native
language.
This fact is put to use twice early in their time in
America. A Lithuanian lawyer is sought to read over the contract
for the purchase of their house. Jurgis is suspicious when the
lawyer and the agent are on a first name basis. However, when
the lawyer tells him that it is a legal and fair document, Jurgis
believes him. The lawyer does not tell him of the loopholes that
will eventually lead to the loss of the house.
After Jurgis works in the packing house for a while, a man
tells him in Lithuanian that he can now become a citizen. Jurgis
is then registered to vote, and told about one of the candidates.
Nothing is said of the other candidate, so he votes for the man
that he is told of, and receives money for this vote.
Another problem faced by most of the immigrants of Chicago is
making a living. Jurgis gets a job on the first day trying. He
is paid the princely sum of $1.25 a day. In Lithuania, this is a
lot of money. With the wages of himself and his brother, the
entire family should be able to keep solvent. Due to the hidden
charges for the house, he finds that he is dreadfully wrong.
and foremost, he tries to awaken the reader to the terrible
living conditions of immigrants in the cities around the turn of
the century. Chicago has the most potent examples of these
conditions. Secondly, he attempts to show the advantages of
socialism in helping to remedy the problems of a society such as
the one that exists in Chicago at this time.
Sinclair accomplishes his objectives with an extremely
powerful story. Jurgis Rudkus and his family seem to be an
average immigrant family of the period. They are not wealthy and
they are easily fooled by schemes designed to take what little
they have. The language barrier encountered by these people is a
major factor in allowing them to be swindled. The immigrants of
this period tend to trust anyone who is fluent in their native
language.
This fact is put to use twice early in their time in
America. A Lithuanian lawyer is sought to read over the contract
for the purchase of their house. Jurgis is suspicious when the
lawyer and the agent are on a first name basis. However, when
the lawyer tells him that it is a legal and fair document, Jurgis
believes him. The lawyer does not tell him of the loopholes that
will eventually lead to the loss of the house.
After Jurgis works in the packing house for a while, a man
tells him in Lithuanian that he can now become a citizen. Jurgis
is then registered to vote, and told about one of the candidates.
Nothing is said of the other candidate, so he votes for the man
that he is told of, and receives money for this vote.
Another problem faced by most of the immigrants of Chicago is
making a living. Jurgis gets a job on the first day trying. He
is paid the princely sum of $1.25 a day. In Lithuania, this is a
lot of money. With the wages of himself and his brother, the
entire family should be able to keep solvent. Due to the hidden
charges for the house, he finds that he is dreadfully wrong.