The Jungle :: Upton Sinclair

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Upton Sinclair's The novel is set in Chicago in the area which hosts the largest slaughtering and meat packaging industry. Two young immigrants, Jurgis Rudkus and Ona Lukoszaite, from Lithuania come to the US in search of a better life. Jurgis Rudkus is a young man who believes that with hard work and along with desire that he may be able to support his one love Ona. He comes to the US in hopes of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Ona Lukoszaite, she is a young and timid lady that comes to the country along with her husband not knowing what to expect and not prepare for the harsh life here in this country during the industrial time. They two young immigrants Jurgis and Ona celebrate their marriage in a traditional peasant lifestyle. The couple is part of a large family that has the hopes of going to America for a better life. Jurgis here in this country begins to work hard and quickly realizes that no matter how hard and long he works he cannot earn enough to support his entire family. Soon after the whole family realizes in order to support themselves they must all begin to work. They buy a house which was sold them by an agent who takes advantage of them not understanding what they were signing. Jurgis soon finds out that all his hard work is in vain where many times corruption is rewarded, the capitalist life is just not fair. As they begin working, the family members discover the horrifying conditions of the packing factory. The conditions of work are inhuman, and the workers are treated inhuman. Jurgis' father is only able to get a job after bribing a boss in the pickling rooms of a meat packing plant. The conditions there are terrible, and the job ultimately kills the old man. Jurgis is injured on the job and is forced to stay home and out of work till he is healed. He has not worked for two months and when he returns back to work he realizes that his position has already been filled by another work. Jugis quickly realizes that with all his hard work he can easily be replaced by someone else. He soon finds a dreaded job to help out at the glue factory. The bills begin to pile up, his wife is pregnant and his family’s lives are being stressed with all the drama in their life.