The American Dream in Upton Sinclair's The Jungle Essay Example

The United States has always been known for its countless opportunities and “ the American dream”. Immigrants have traveled from  all around the globe in search of the land of promise they hear so much about. America has been welcoming immigrants into its territory since the 19th century. They come in the hopes of a better future for them and their family. And so began the search for the renowned “ American dream”, but that is all it was, a dream. 

Upton Sinclair invites readers to further understand the concept of the american dream, suffering and progressivism through “ the jungle”. In this compelling story, main character Jurgis and his wife, Ona come to America, craving the infamous american dream. The Lithuanian couple, along with other members of their family, travel to Chicago. “But they had come to a new country, where everything was different, including the food. They had always been accustomed to eat a great deal of smoked sausage, and how could they know that what they bought in America was not the same—that its color was made by chemicals, and its smoky flavor by more chemicals, and that it was full of “potato-flour” besides?”In this strange new world,  they find Packingtown, the center of Chicago's meat packing industry. 

Sinclair quickly reveals how harsh, unsanitary and dangerous the labor work is in this mysterious town.``This was in truth not living; it was scarcely even existing, and they felt that it was too little for the price they paid. They were willing to work all the time; and when people did their best, ought they not be able to keep alive?”. It was not only the working conditions, but the cruelty had spread to the humanity which was around them. Jurgis also learned that society as a whole was against him and all the men he worked with because of how they looked.

Consequently, The American dream represents the idea that anyone can create their own version of success in a society which provides these possibilities to everyone and anyone. Jurgis had no choice but to believe in this dream, after a friend of his, Jonas, suggested that he and his family may move to America in search of work, jurgis imagined what his life would be like if he followed in the same direction. He imagined it the same way all settlers did, “That was a country where, they said, a man might earn three roubles a day; and Jurgis figured what three roubles a day would mean, with prices as they were where he lived, and decided forthwith that he would go to America and marry, and be a rich man in the bargain. In that country, rich or poor, a man was free, it was said; he did not have to go into the army, he did not have to pay out his money to rascally officials, —he might do as he pleased, and count himself as good as any other man.” He is oblivious to the reality of the economic system in America, as well as how expensive it is to live in a new country as progressive as the United States. 

Jurgis has a rude awakening as soon as he and his family arrive in packingtown. He is lucky to find a job so quickly, however the costs of the new house and food start to pile up. Soon enough, it is winter, the most dangerous time to work in the meat packing industry. “This was in truth not living; it was scarcely even existing, and they felt that it was too little for the price they paid. They were willing to work all the time; and when people did their best, ought they not be able to keep alive?”. As the family experiences their first winter in Chicago, they seem to face constant challenges. This is very accurate to the actual history of immigration in the United states. Most foreigners came to the United States because it was perceived as a land of economic opportunity and were instead faced with the harsh truths of reality.

In a time where suffering for immigrants was at its peak, so was progressivism. Progressivism is essentially a certain way of thinking that focuses on social progress. The progressive movement had four major goals: to protect social welfare, promote moral improvement, create economic reform and to foster efficiency. Sinclair shed light on the limits of the progressive movement and was an attempt to get the government more involved with societal problems instead of letting society take care of itself. The jungle is a perfect example of what actually happens to middle class workers in a  society where the government is not involved in any way. Progressives believed that challenges in society could be solved by having a safe environment and a better workplace. After The Jungle was released, Sinclair’s hopes for the impact of his novel came true, as progressives were able to drastically move forward as the government began to take a larger role in business.

The progressive movement was aimed to solve many problems caused by industrialization, immigration and political corruption, all problems which involved the middle class. This is why The jungle held such a strong influence over middle class readers, many of them held connections  to problems occurring within the novel. This could possibly suggest the limits of progressivism considering that many progressives were middle class. The progressive movement was exclusive to white, educated middle class. Other limits to the movement included a divided power in the federalist system, elitism, and racism. 

Sinclair used The Jungle as a powerful story that would move the government in the right direction towards helping labor rights and better working conditions. He succeeded as the government took a step in the right direction. The jungle  also addressed other important issues including poverty, suffering, racism, capitalism and progressivism. This is why the story held such an influence over readers, particularly middle class because these were the issues they had been fighting for in th eprogressive movement. The jungle accurately represented a time of racism and elitism, and the unfulfilled hope of the American dream.