The Jungle By Upton Sinclair :: essays research papers

There are many characters in The Jungle. These characters vary widely in their professions, social status, and economic status. The main character in the novel is a Lithuanian named Jurgis Rudkus. His wife is Ona Lukoszaite, also a Lithuanian. Their son is named Antanas. Mike Scully is a powerful political leader in Packingtown. Phil Connor is a antique in Packingtown, politically connected (through Scully), and a man who causes much trouble for Jurgis. Jack Duane is an experienced and educated criminal who is also politically connected. A man called Ostrinski is a half-blind tailor who teaches Jurgis about Socialism. There are also the members of Onas family, each of whom play minor roles in the story. The story opens with the feast at Jurgis and Onas wedding in America, but soon flashes back to the time before they left Lithuania. Jurgis met Ona at a horse fair, and fell in complete with her. Unfortunately, they were too poor to have a wedding, since Onas father just died. In th e hopes of finding freedom and fortune, they left for America, bringing many members of Onas family with them. afterward arriving in America, they are taken to Packingtown to find work. Packingtown is a section of Chicago where the meat packing industry is centralized. They take a tour of the plant, and see the tall(a) efficiency and speed at which slovenly persons and cattle are butchered, cooked, packed, and shipped. In Packingtown, no part of the animal is wasted. The tour guide specifically says They use everything about the hog take out the squeal, (The Jungle, page 38).Jurgiss brawny build quickly gets him a job on the cattle killing beds. The other members of the family soon find jobs, except for the children. They are put into school. At initiatory, Jurgis is happy with his job and America, but he soon learns that America is plagued by corruption, dishonesty, and bribery. He is forced to work at high school speeds for long hours with low pay, and so is the rest of the fa mily. He is cheated out of his money several times. The children must leave school and go to work to help the family survive. This promoter they will never receive the education they need to rise above this. Ona is not permitted to take a holiday, even for her own wedding.After the birth of her first son, Antanas, Ona soon becomes pregnant again.