Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young. They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward-stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh. He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides. There was too much health in him. He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten. "That is well enough for men like you," he would say, "silpnas, puny fellows-but my back is broad." Jurgis was ...
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Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young. They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward-stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh. He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides. There was too much health in him. He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten. "That is well enough for men like you," he would say, "silpnas, puny fellows-but my back is broad." Jurgis was like a boy, a boy from the country. He was the sort of man the bosses like to get hold of, the sort they make it a grievance they cannot get hold of. When he was told to go to a certain place, he would go there on the run. When he had nothing to do for the moment, he would stand round fidgeting, dancing, with the overflow of energy that was in him. If he were working in a line of men, the line always moved too slowly for him, and you could pick him out by his impatience and restlessness. That was why he had been picked out on one important occasion; for Jurgis had stood outside of Brown and Company's "Central Time Station" not more than half an hour, the second day of his arrival in Chicago, before he had been beckoned by one of the bosses. Of this he was very proud, and it made him more disposed than ever to laugh at the pessimists. In vain would they all tell him that there were men in that crowd from which he had been chosen who had stood there a month-yes, many months-and not been chosen yet. "Yes," he would say, "but what sort of men? Broken-down tramps and good-for-nothings, fellows who have spent all their money drinking, and want to get more for it. Do you want me to believe that with these arms"-and he would clench his fists and hold them up in the air, so that you might see the rolling muscles-"that with these arms people will ever let me starve?" - Taken from "The Jungle" written by Upton Sinclair
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Upton SInclair bravely tells the story of the manipulation of immigrants who were shipped by train to Chicago to work in the meat processing industry there. It is not just an indictment of the meat industry at that time, as some people think, but also tells about other big businesses that were preying on these people, as well. For example, there was a bar on every corner, and the banks were making loans to the workers so that they could buy homes; the homes were often repossessed and then resold to another worker needing a home. The railroads were heavily involved, transporting not just the cattle but the people to process the cattle.
I can't think of another book that is so well-informed and really mind-and life-changing. Dickens comes to mind, but Sinclair was harsher in his judgment than even Dickens. According to Wikipedia, SInclair went undercover and worked in the factories for a while before writing this fictional account of a family enduring those times and conditions. It came out first as an article, and then he wanted to make it into a book, but he couldn't get anyone to publish it . So he published it himself, under the name "Jungle Publishing". Later Doubleday picked it up.
It should be required reading for any person wanting to be well-informed. Because what happened then is not unique, and is still happening today, in varying forms. We're still seeing many bars and liquor stores in sketchy neighborhoods, and we all know what happened with the banks and real estate, starting in 2008. So the book is still meaningful in terms of contemporary issues.
rauljag
Mar 25, 2010
welcome to the jungle
this book gives a worms eye view of what survival in the late nineteenth century was like for the lowly immigrant, fresh off the boat. In a country where an uneven distribution of wealth couldnt be more apparent. Capitalist propaganda could never blurr the real truth this book uncovers.
Looney
Apr 9, 2009
Cliff Notes summary of "The Jungle"
This is my first exposure to Cliff Notes. The summary was succinct, as you would expect a summary to be, yet all of the essential elements of the book were noted.
I would definitely order Cliff Notes again.
kimberly29
Oct 23, 2008
This is my favorite book!!
This is my favorite book of all time. Its definately a page turner, being historical and fiction at the same time. I recommend this to everyone and recommend it any chance i get.