Upton Sinclair's heroic journey

A False Hope

The American dream, a promise sold to newcomers in the 20th century, labeled the United States as a place of rising opportunities and undeniable prosperity. In an attempt to attract large groups of immigrants, business associations began disseminating propaganda on the true American identity of the time. While the United States held a prestigious title for its cultural advancements, developing economies, and growing environments, it secretly drowned in its imperfections. Institutions continued to showcase their accomplishments and embody the image of a perfect society, inspiring thousands of families to migrate. Excited by the outcome of their visit, people began purchasing homes and searching for occupations, contributing to American welfare. As immigrants settled into their new lives, they hype focused on the instability of the workforce and the poor state in which these businesses operated. From there, situations escalated as businesses were being exposed for unsanitary working conditions. A dream that they had once longed for transformed into an everlasting nightmare. All along, they were subsequently blinded by America’s dark reality and struck by its disguise. 

The Jungle By Upton Sinclair

In 1904, Upton Sinclair embarked on a seven week journey to Chicago as an undercover agent deepening his knowledge of the meat industry. In previous years, he'd witnessed the exploitation of innocent immigrants, and the work force's unfathomable behavior towards animal production. To Sinclair, Chicago was an eye-opening experience. This allowed him to witness the brutality at the hands of business owners. In an attempt to make their meat easily accessible at a faster rate, they poured toxic chemicals, unlabeled ingredients, and parts of slaughtered animals into their product. This inattentiveness led to the decrease in population growth, and the rapid spread of diseases amongst the country. These tactics made them prone to diseases such as tuberculosis, a contagious disease pertaining to the malfunction in the respiratory system. Business owners favored their sanity, their own pride, and their bulging pockets for the sake of their well-being. 

After Upton Sinclair's journey to Chicago, where he witnessed this devastating tragedy, he hoped to publish a novel. Later on, the Jungle confronted the insanity of these work forces, the recurring abuse that these victims endured, and the uncleanliness of which the meat industry represented. In addition, the Jungle by Upton Sinclair showcased the impact that these industries had on the victims. The separation of thousands upon thousands of families, and the feeling of suffocating in financial debt was abruptly expressed through his writing. Overall, he hoped that this novel would communicate the severity of this situation, and call for an immediate change in the way the American food industry operated. 

What role did Jurgis Rudkus play

Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant featured as the protagonist in the “Jungle” by Upton Sinclair,  suffered greatly from the inhumanity occurring in America.  He, along with his child Antanos, his beloved wife Ona, and his extended family, migrated to Packing town in the United States from Lithuania. Ultimately, they were determined to fulfill their ambitions and rebuild their lives free of despair. However, shortly after their departure to America, they were faced with a manufactured collision, forcing them to withstand unbearable working and at-home conditions. These individuals were driven on the path of labor operations, putting forth tireless efforts to earn an unjustified salary. Oftentimes, Jurgis returned home from his meat-packing occupation, carrying life-threatening diseases, or covered in excruciating pain from the perilous atmospheres of these facilities. Following the death of his beloved wife, and his newborn, Jurgis fell into a clinical depression. This sudden loss contributed to his identity crisis, and further encouraged his involvement in various crime activities. As Jurgis developed severe drinking problems, his affiliations in crime, and misconduct became increasingly more dangerous.  

One day, Jurgis found himself in attendance of a social movement, fighting for innocent civilian lives, and for equality among all individuals in America. They shouted desperately at the government, and other business institutions involved in the propaganda that this country sold. Jurgis, accompanied by a large crowd, fought relentlessly for change in the disintegrating economy, and for a change in America’s justice system. The America they once believed to be a place of fairy tale-like dreams sold artificial promises. Jurgis was committed to reinventing the American dream, and stabilizing its grounds. He continued to voice his opinions against these inequitable actions hoping that the government, and other participants involved in this outbreak would seek change. 

The Aftermath 

The publication of the Jungle by Upton Sinclair, expressing the cruelty of the social and economical injustice occurring finally reached the government's hands. After countless years of living in weariness, and indescribable environments, Americans unified themselves to demand a call to action. With the information that the public received, involving the insanitary conditions of the meat packing industry, and the exploitation that the working class endured, the government was overruled. 

In 1906, the food and drug act, and the meat inspection act were imposed on all food businesses, institutions, and forces. Firstly, the food and drug act prohibited any form of participation in the intentional, or unintentional mislabeling of items. Any food, medication, or product sold in and out of a company's soil must include a brief summary of the ingredients used throughout the process. In this, there were specific guidelines that each company was held accountable to. This ensured that the food, or products sold were safe for consumption, or application. The food and drug act was not limited to specific states, but was rather a federal/national law. In contribution to this resolution, the government sent workers who specialized in the meat inspection industry. This served as a protocol to ensure that all companies refrained from participating in illegal acts. Behind the counter, these specialists looked for any signs, or evidence that implied an unsanitary, or impure manufacture of meat. 

About Upton Saint Claire 

Upton Sinclair was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 20, 1878. Sinclair himself grew up in poverty, while enduring the physiological abuse of having an alcoholic father. In his later years, Upton Sinclair earned an education from the College of New York before he transferred to Columbia University. Sinclair held a great passion for writing throughout his youth, which followed him in his adult life. At first, he wrote newspapers feeding into his humor, and other cartoons. As he ventured into his fervor for literature, he began publishing novels, including King Midas, Prince Hagen, and The Journal Of Arthur Stirling. Upton Sinclair’s time serving as an advocate for socialism sparked the formation of “The Jungle”. This particular book incorporates the various conditions innocent civilians endured in America during the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s.