The Jungle follows Jurgis Rudkis over several years of miserable existence as a working man. This book went into great detail about the horrors that take place in a slaughterhouse and meat packing company. It ends as a lecture on socialism. The middle contained more of a story though.
Spoilers abound below.
These questions are adapted from Susan Bauer’s Well-Educated Mind, Chapter 5.
✏️Is this Novel a fable or a chronicle?
Chronicle – it takes place in the real world.
🖍️How does the writer show us reality (if chronicle)?
We see reality through physical descriptions of the plight of the “working man.”
🖍️What is the intent of the world (if fantastic)?
The intent was to educate the reader on the plight of the “working man” and on socialism.
🖍️Is the novel primarily realistic with a few fantastic elements?
It has no fantastic elements
✏️What does the central character want? What is standing in their way? What strategy do they pursue to overcome this block?
Jurgis only wants to survive with some vestiges of health and prosperity. He tries several different ways of life, eventually failing to achieve his goal in all of them, presumably until he discovers socialism.
✏️Who is telling this story?
The POV is third person limited omniscient (the narrator knows the thoughts of Jurgis and his family, but focuses more on physical descriptions than on thoughts).
✏️Where is the story set?
The story is mostly set in Chicago
🖍️How does this setting convey the character’s relationship to the world?
The title of the book “The Jungle” is talking about the concrete jungle. The story revolves around how the city affects Jurgis.
✏️Do you sympathize with the characters? Which ones and why?
I sympathize with Jurgis to a certain degree. He was in a bad situation, so his poor choices were understandable, but he made quite a few.
✏️Does the writer’s technique give you a clue as to his take on the human condition?
Yes, Upton Sinclair seems to sympathize with the socialist movement and to care for the plight of the underdog.
✏️Is the novel self-reflective?
As far as being reflective about his views on socialism, yes. As far as his own condition in life, no. This is coming from someone with the wherewithal to write a book. Not someone suffering in the stockyards.
✏️Did the author’s time affect him?
Of course. This was a time when socialism was spreading and the plight of the working man was even worse than it us now.
✏️Is there an argument in this book? Do I agree?
I somewhat agree with socialism – within limits.
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