A Constant Theme Of Destruction In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

In the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, the main characters are Jurgis, Elzbieta, Marija, little Stanislovas, Ona, old Antanas and baby Antanas. Throughout the book, there is a constant theme of destruction due to the family moving to America from Lithuania. This shaped their fate, actions, and characteristics. The family was trapped in the American Jungle having no control in what happened to them and demolished their lives; history repeating itself. Historical events prove the suffering America brings. Native Americans, Women, African Americans and immigrants are all discriminated against. Anyone who is different suffers from no rights and terrible living conditions; they are sucked into this country’s beastly nature. 1848 began the Women’s

“The black and hideous fact was made plain to him! There was a filling in all the pillars of his soul, the sky seemed to split above him-he stood there, with his clenched hands upraised, his eyes bloodshot, and the veins standing out purple in his face, roaring in the voice of a wild beast, frantic, incoherent, maniacal.” (Sinclair 308). The last shred of humanity was taken from Jurgis and he was shaped into a beast belonging to a jungle. Power was also taken by the weather. The excruciating cold caused the family to either not get to work or fail at completing their job successfully. They had no power over their fate. They could not eat because they didn't have money. Every aspect of life was reduced to less than the bare minimum; sleep, happiness, food, clothes, sympathy, strength, finance, warmth. “Deeper their heart grows and nobler their bearing, whose youth in the fires of anguish hath died” (Sinclair 76). Not all members of the family had to suffer. Some paid the ultimate price and passed away. Old Antanas, baby Antanas and Ona all worked so hard to escape the pain but ended up adding to it. “When they could not keep a job for him, when there were no more harvesting machines made than the world was able to buy! What a hellish mockery it was, anyway, that a man should slave to make harvesting machines for the country, only to be turned out to starve for doing his duty too well!” (Sinclair 201-202). They didn't know how they were being played. The

America is a terrible place and they should have stayed in Lithuania where they were happy. “The supreme hour of ecstasy in the life of one of God’s gentlest creatures, the scene of the wedding feast and the joy transfiguration of little Ona” (Sinclair 2). Ona was an innocent, child-like character but entering the American Jungle shaped her characteristics, personality and actions into a sad, broken person. She had to fight for herself but the beastly nature of America did not allow it. This is the same situation with Women, African Americans and Native Americans. Some gained a little power as ‘The Jungle’ was overwhelmed by the passion and the confidence its’ pawns developed. “Finally a speaker came forward and spoke of Chicago’s South SIde, its Negro population, their sufferings, and handicaps, linking all that …. fused into one overwhelming drama of moral struggle in which everybody in the hall was participating” (Wright 371). People came together to fight the bigger power because they were all destroyed by it. They were all trapped and trying to escape. In the book The Jungle, there was no hope only fear and weakness. The characters didn’t have the power/control/strength to understand/know the big picture. America crippled the family because they were apart of an overgrown jungle yet not overwhelmed by intelligence at that