The Jungle
Upton Sinclair
Doubleday and McClure, 1906
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is an outstanding example of a novel written to strike the soul of the American people and lead to reform. As Sinclair said, “I aimed at the public’s heart and by accident I hit it in the stomach.”
Published in 1906, the novel describes grotesque conditions in slaughterhouses and unsanitary handling of meat at the turn of the century.
The writer used graphic imagery in conjunction with a fluid and engaging storyline to develop a book that was both a weapon and a work of art. The Jungle lead to passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act and formation of the Food and Drug Administration.
The Jungle chronicles the life of immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his struggles not to thrive, but to survive in Chicago. Feeding his family was his only concern. Since he spoke little English Jurgis was taken advantage of and duped out of his hard earned money.
For example, when his family decided to buy a house a sly salesman conveniently failed to mention the interest and taxes that would be added to monthly payment. Payments smothered the family. Unable to pay, they were evicted and left to wander the streets.
When Jurgis found a job in a packing plant, Sinclair wrote about brutal, inhuman practices against animals, the stench of fresh blood that caused a layer of steam to engulf the workers, and the grotesque manner in which every part of the animal was used in food products. This book also revealed the brutal system of low wages.
The overall theme of Jurgis’s life was constant struggle. Every member of the family had to work. Young children screwed lids on jars or sold newspapers on the streets.
Sinclair made excellent use of every word in his book. He portrayed graphic images of everyday life in the packing plants. From the killing beds to the fertilizer factories, Sinclair’s grave descriptions made the reader’s skin crawl. If plainer language had been used the public would have taken no notice to the conditions of the plants. The words he fit beautifully together not only got the point across but did so in a manner that put the reader in the middle of the story. He touched all the senses with his descriptive language and vivid details.
“The Jungle was designed as a weapon. The author hoped it would serve The Revolution—which seemed to him in 1906 to be marching just around the corner. He did not intend it to be a work of art,” wrote critic John Fischer.
Sinclair punched America in the gut. He successfully conveyed his desire for change and reform. His book lead to letters to the congress and eventually laws were introduced that would change the way that meat was handled.
The history of this book makes it a must read for anyone interested in the social change of America. Also, the beautiful imagery and use of vivid language makes it a good read. Any reader should be prepared to spend several hours attempting to find a good stopping point because there is none in this book.
The Jungle flows so well that it is almost impossible to put down. Sinclair shows so much passion that it can be felt throughout the entire book. He has written one of the most compelling and complex books that I have ever read.
He also wrote “Oil!” the book on which the award-winning film “There Will Be Blood” was based.
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