Symbolism In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

A brief glance at United States history will provide miniscule details of the reality of the American society, and will instead present the United States as a utopia of sorts. Upon through examination, one will find an America that nearly fits the dictionary definition of a dystopia: "an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly." ("Dystopia") The one difference being, it is actually a reality, not a fantasy, for the majority of the populace. From the revolutionary era where the elite controlled the mass majority of the wealth, through the industrial age where the elite had an even greater concentration, to the present day, where the upper class live in luxury and the lower class still lives
It tells the reality, the meaning behind Jurgis’ actions, and evokes emotions of anger, shock, disgust, and towards the end: happiness from the reader. When Jurgis had thought early on in the book just after he had gotten his first job that Durhams was protecting him and helping him, Sinclair chimed in, “So guileless was he, and ignorant of the nature of business.” (Sinclair 34) Sinclair tells the story from a God-like perspective, where he’s in the mind of Jurgis but seems to not control it, but has a heavy opinion on Jurgis’ actions and especially those of others. Sinclair once again calls out Jurgis’ ignorance on page 50 after he thinks that he will climb the corporate latter by performing hard work, to which Sinclair states, “…he would soon find out his error—for nobody rose in Packingtown for doing good work.” Every time a major incident occurred in the book, Sinclair was certain to comment on the reasoning, especially the covert one. After seeking for jobs and getting numerous rejections, Sinclair pointed out the hidden reason, “—poor devil, he was blacklisted!” (Sinclair 163). Blacklisting was a popular way of keeping out those who went against the company line: union leaders, disturbers, reformers, etc. It was also in his commentary that Sinclair delivered his message in support for socialism and how the corporate machine exploited people. After losing one of countless jobs, Sinclair goes on a long rant about the corporations, “What a hellish mockery it was…slave to make machines…only to be turned out to starve…for doing too well!” (Sinclair 168) Towards the end of the book, when Jurgis is taught socialism, Sinclair notes, “…suddenly a large hand…seized him…and set him high on a mountaintop” so he could see his entire life and how corporations took advantage of him and ruined his life and his family. (Sinclair