The Jungle

The challenging life of an immigrant is portrayed in this classic, The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair.  The story takes place in the Midwest region of America, Chicago to be exact, in the beginning of the twentieth century and focuses on life in the meat-packing industry.  The particular “ethnic group” at the bottom of the pecking order is the Lithuanians and the main character, Jurgis Rudkus, seemingly endures every possible embarrassment and loss a person could ever face.  When I say that there are few characters in the history of literature (not including the Bible) who endure more hardship in one story, Jurgis is it!  It is a story in which Jurgis seems to be turning the corner, and then BOOM, it all goes for naught.  Jurgis is an amazingly hard working guy who does all that he can for his family working hard through the corruption that is all around him in the meat-packing industry and the onset of the union movement.  Everything that was/is wrong with the American dream and the preying on the newly arrived immigrant occurs, a great example: buying a house (that is poorly constructed) and not reading the fine print that mentions the 10% interest rate on top of the monthly mortgage (even after lawyers are hired to advise them!), so Jurgis loses the house!  The family struggles to make ends meet OFTEN and faces his biggest challenge when the family is starving and he learns his wife (Ona) was offering “services” to his boss to bring in money for food.  Jurgis is jailed after attacking his boss, Ona eventually dies during child-birth, and almost all other family members die.  Depressed yet?  Sinclair’s work brilliantly portrays the ills of society.  The last part of the book is almost an advertisement for a socialist approach where Jurgis meets a local union advocate who wants to spread the wealth evenly.  Great read for anyone who wants to learn how immigrants often feel when they enter our homeland.  Add to your list, a classic for high school students.