The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a 1906 novel revealing the harsh condition and how immigrants were exploited in the United States. The primary intention of the author was exploring the meant industry and the working conditions in an effort to develop socialism in the country. The novel is a literary masterpiece that will make anyone turn vegan. Following publication, it became very controversial throughout the United States. The manner in which Sinclair has described unethical business doings, unhygienic Chicago’s meatpacking market and unfair working environments made many Americans subscribe to his philosophy and ideology.
Whom does it benefit?
Deducing from the Marxist criticism school of thought, it is apparent that The Jungle is a uniquely strange text. The theories of renowned philosopher Karl Max concerns itself with variations in class and economic systems. Similarly, Sinclair has tried to explore the socioeconomic system through the class in America and the working condition thus answering the question of whom does it benefit. Moreover, the author, in line with Marxist tradition was interested in examining how the lower class or rather the working classes were being treated unfairly and that is the core reason for him to base his book on the meat industry. It is a uniquely strange novel basing on the fact that it has remained relevant for a very long time and apart from just being a text denoting the accounts of class and economic conditions, it has also turned out to be a significant historic book. Also, it has earned notable controversial critics both in literature and politics.
The materialistic dialect
Material dialectic is a school of thought upon which Marxism criticism is founded. It states that the things that drive historical change are usually material realities particularly the ones from the economic foundation of a certain society. On the other hand, it declines the notion that historical change is determined basing on the ideological superstructure upon which the politics, law, and religion of society have been based. In The Jungle, the author narrates how the hostile working conditions and poverty among the immigrant citizens worsened by the corrupt politicians and business people led to public outcry and later reforms such as the introduction of Meat Inspection Act. This is a depiction of materialistic dialect as it can be seen that the people in power, the law, and the general ideological superstructure did not drive change but rather what brought change to the people is the poor conditions and worse working conditions which fall under material realities. Also, another instance of materialistic dialect and its influence over historical change can be deduced from the story of Jurgis in the novel. Jurgis poverty level is what drove him to work in a meatpacking plant. When he was fired, he took another job in Durhams firm dealing in plant manure. Later, he is arrested and imprisoned. From these successive incidences, material realities are evident and they are the forces behind the change. It can be seen the law, politics, and ideologies did not play part in changing the situation of Jurgis family and thus confirms Marxist criticism of philosophical inclination. While in jail, his family is evicted from the house that they were living in making their life worse. This incidence also coincides with Marxists school of thought that historical change is brought about by the realities in life deduced from the daily happenings.
The revolution
Basing on the Marxist criticism, constant conflicts between different classes within the society brings about the mayhem and ultimately revolution which is stirred by the oppressed individuals. Usually, it’s the conflict between the oppressed and the oppressors that becomes the basis of changes in a society in terms of economics in societies where capitalism is obliterated. Marx stated that the working class or rather the oppressed groups are the ones who lead a revolution and not the peasants. From Sinclair’s book, it is the continuous discrimination of the working class the led to the public outcry. For this public outcry, the revolution was started which led to changes both in the social activities and even the economy of the society through policies such as the Meat Inspection Act.
Summing up, Sinclair through his book The Jungle has exclusively explored the evils of capitalism. Every event within the book has been designed to address specific failures relating to capitalism. Just like Marxist perceives capitalism as unfair, destructive and hostile, so is Sinclair in his novel. In the novel, when the immigrants came to the United States, they had the notion that they would live the American dream. However, due to capitalism, the people in power took advantage of them and made their life miserable. Despite working, the immigrants continued to live in poverty which reflects the material realities and how they drive change. It is due to the constant oppression and conflicts between the rich and the poor that drives revolution that later leads to equality, especially in socialism just as implied by Karl Marx when he noted of a socialist paradise driven by proletariat revolution.
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