Open Prompt #1- The Jungle

1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader's or audience's views. Avoid plot summary.

     Literature is a powerful tool that often has significant effects on those who read it . Upton Sinclair's The Jungle was written specifically to create political change. Sinclair, who had extensive knowledge of the Chicago meat packing industry, put his main character, Jurgis, and his family through a variety of trials designed to illustrate the evils of capitalism. He relies on intense imagery in an attempt to show people the effect the capitalist system was having on the working class and the american public as a whole. His language is very clear and easy to read, as well as his intentions being straight forward. He only hopes that, ending the book with a socialist manifest of sorts, the common man will understand and initiate the change he hopes to see.

     The author of the novel is deeply opposed to the american capitalist system. He saw the working class being exploited by the beef barons in Chicago's stockyards during his time there. With his novel, he intended to be the catalyst for a socialist revolution he saw as inevitable. More equitable distribution of wealth was his main goal, and while he never achieved that goal, his book did have a significant impact on the american awareness of the worker's plight and the horrific conditions in which their food was produced.

     Sinclair uses graphic imagery to sway his audience throughout the novel. In order to bring about the change he desires it was necessary for him to convince his audience, and the best way to do that was through gruesome depictions of his characters living and working conditions. His descriptions of the awful sights and sounds of living and working conditions were many, whole human bodies being incorporated into lard and rats crawling among the meat that was destine for the public's plate. Even worse were the horrors that visited the Jurgis Rudkus' family, including a mother's death during child birth, a child drowning in a street, and even a young boy being eaten alive by rats. Sinclair effectively uses details and imagery of horrific scenes to sway the public's opinion and motivate change.

     Throughout the novel Sinclair's language remains relatively simplistic. It makes sense when you consider his goals. He sought to inspire socialist change, and in the people in favor of that would most likely in the lower to middle class and likely not highly educated. So in order to effectively reach out to them, keep in mind that the novel was published in 1905, he needed to be as clear and straight forward as possible. There was relatively little ambiguity, Jurgis was a good man being destroyed by the environment he lived in, an environment created by capitalists, who were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, evil.The single mindedness of his purpose and the simplicity of his language help him to accomplish his goals.

      Upton Sinclair sought a more equitable America. In writing The Jungle he used intense imagery and clear language that showed his intentions to purvey a message to the american public. Sinclair is quoted as saying " I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach." Nonetheless, Sinclair used language effectively enough to have a long lasting effect on the common people.