Socialism In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” advocates for socialism by depicting the story of a young immigrant who is manipulated and cheated time and time again by sadist business men in a capitalist society. Throughout the novel, the idea that socialism is a more Biblically sound economic system is asserted through evidence of Jesus’ teachings in which He condemns the wealthy for their attachment to the world. However, capitalism implements more Biblical ideas than socialism does because of the rewards that come from hard work and the means of production being privately owned, which are both ideas taught throughout Jesus’ teachings. Shortly after Jurgis is introduced to the idea of socialism, he finds Lucas, an evangelist, who argues that socialism is

While it can be agreed upon that Jesus resented the qualities and attributes of those that are wealthy and love riches, it is apparent that He is not opposed to wealth as a whole. Wealth, in most cases, is a product of hard work and labor, which is often admired in the Bible. Jesus spoke of the importance of working for your deserved pay, something that is very relevant in a capitalist society. He commanded His disciples, “ ‘Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road … Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages’ ”(Luke 10:3-4, 7). Jesus sends 72 of His followers to tell people about His message, but he tells them not to bring any of their belongings. He tells them that they will receive their food as a result of their hard work in spreading the Gospel. Jesus teaches that hard work is to be rewarded, which is one of the main components of a capitalist society. Socialism, however, ensures that the poor are able to receive money by limiting the amount of money that a person can make and giving the excess to the needy. Although this would sound ideal to an immigrant who has been taken advantage of in every way imaginable, this would create an idle society, something that is warned against in the book of Matthew when Jesus spoke about the Parable of the Bags of Gold. When one of the servants did nothing to increase the amount of gold that was entrusted to him, “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?’ ” (Matthew 25:26). The servant is condemned for being lazy and it is demonstrated earlier that the servants who doubled the amount of gold were praised. It can be understood that Jesus resents those that do little or no