The Jungle

THE JUNGLE
The socialist movement swept the country around the turn of the twentieth century. Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle in 1906 to inform the public of the working class’s situation and to promote socialism. In his novel, he explicates the evils of capitalism and the growing spirits of socialism that most Americans faced during the late 1800s through early 1900’s. During the Gilded Age, socialist, capitalist, corruption in the cities, and unions played a major role into shaping the beginning of the 20th century.
In his novel, Sinclair uses some symbolism to explain the harsh reality of this era. The Jungle actually symbolizes the capitalist idea of the survival of the fittest. Only the rich are able to survive in the capitalist society. These powerful rulers are able to use the weak and poor to make themselves stronger through bribes and other scandals. In this novel, Mike Scully uses his powers as a political boss, and Jurgis to help him obtain his objectives. Another sy...