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Socialism Exposed In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

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In Upton Sinclair’s novel, “The Jungle”, the life of a man named Jurgis and his family is documented as they immigrate to America in the very early 20th century. What the book is intended to do is shed light on the issues of America in its early stages dealing with capitalism and socialism. It shows the struggles that Jurgis goes through just to attempt to make ends meet for his family and live an average life. While his goals and aspirations take a turn very shortly after his arrival, this is a sound example of life for immigrants during this time. They were promised wealth and greater opportunities, and upon their arrival this is not what they were set up to receive. In Sinclair’s novel, he attempts to show the negative features of capitalism such as the unfair treatment the working class men received from business owners in the United States …show more content…
He came from Lithuania with his fiancé and children to chase after the historical “American Dream.” Specifically, Jurgis wanted to form a modern, improved life for he and his family. Him and his fiancé wed, and are immediately put into debt from the wedding, but they still carry high hopes about the awaiting reward they would receive from moving to Chicago, Illinois. One goal he had at the top of his list was to be able to send his children to a public school and get them a favorable education. In addition to providing for his children, his main goal was to bestow his new wife with the wonderful life he believed she deserved. It says in the novel that, “Jurgis had never seen a city… until he had set out to make his fortune in the world and earn his right to Ona” (Sinclair 62). This quote shows very clearly that the main reason him and his family made the journey from Lithuania was so that he could prove he was a man and provide for his wife, that is all Jurgis truly wanted in

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