the jungle

A detailed Summary of the jungle


The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a harsh representation of how life was in the 1900's. It is about how

people, not just foreigners, but Americans as well had to struggle just to live and to keep on living even at

the bottom of society. It tells how a family has to endure hardships and tragedies just to barely make it.

Stories and rumors were being told by many to persuade people to leave their country and go to America

in search of happiness and success. But what was told turned out to be false in the sense that success and

happiness are exactly the opposite. What a small Lithuanian family found out was that America wasn't

One problem that faced this Lithuanian family is that they needed money. They were told that

you made more money when working but they were not told that everything cost more as well. The family

that included, Jurgis, Antanas, Marija, Ona, Jonas, Teta and her children were in America without a place

to live and start their lives over again. Without a place to live they luckily find a friend from their

homeland that tells them where they can live for low costs. The place they were sent to was a tenement

shelter where it was over run and filled with rodents. But being new to America and not


money and could not afford food or the house they bought. Jurgis left jail only to find that Ona had died

is all the family could do to stay out of the cold.

society such as unemployment, lack of food, and lack of places to live, have all contributed to the Family's

in hazardous fumes and particles in the air. Even though he smells and is practically dying form the

one. Antanas has to pay the job hunter for getting him the job. To equal Jurgis's income Marija has to find

forced her to have an affair with him or he would fire her. With Jurgis in jail the family didn't have any

time in his life. But that shows how far people will sink to keep above water. It shows the selfishness that

job and is forced to live on the streets.

socialist hotel owner and lives his life with the thoughts that Socialism will improve his life.

horrible jobs. With no place to live Jurgis has to find shelter in a political gathering. There he learns about

work and support the family. Now the family has to rely on Jurgis, Marija, and Ona to work and keep

Jurgis, who is back on the streets because he attacks the man who took advantage of Ona. He



Some common words found in the essay are:
Jonas Teta, Marija Ona, Antanas Jurgis's, Jack Duane, Upton Sinclair, job hunter, poor conditions, sets help family, jurgis job, source income family, harsh world, sets help, survive world, marija ona, money told, help family, lithuanian family,

Approximate Word count = 1099
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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