Upton Sinclair portrays the economic tension in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries through his novel “The Jungle”. He used the story of a Lithuanian immigrant, Jurgis Rudkus, to show the harsh situation that immigrants had to face in the United States, the unsanitary and unsafe working conditions in the meatpacking plants, as well as the tension between the capitalism and socialism in the United States during the early 1900s.
In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, Jurgis and his family attempt to survive in a malicious society. In this jungle of a town, rotten meat is being packaged in order to save money. Throughout the novel, the immigrants are faced with greedy capitalists who take advantage of the family’s ignorance and naivety in order to make money. The symbols of corruption, a jungle-like setting, and the tension between family and a work-based lifestyle transparently contribute to the unifying theme of anti-capitalism. In other words, this book is not art; this book is propaganda.
Throughout the book, Jurgis had to constantly switch jobs because of accidents that laid him off work. No jobs was available to Jurgis except the fertilizer mill. The job at the fertilizer is the worse of it can be, Jurgis describes “...the phosphates soaked in through every pore of jurgis’s skin and in five minutes he had a headache, and in fifteen was almost dazed. the blood was pounding in his brain like an engine’s throbbing ……”(108). The fertilizer mill Jurgis is working at is extremely unsafe. Sinclair notes the time and symptoms in order to show toxicity of the workspace many worker had to endure. When Jurgis’s blood is compared as an engine throbbing, it shows that Jurgis is not in a good condition because when an engine is throbbing, it is a sign of not working properly. It is also important to note that Jurgis had to endure this pain because it was the only job left for him to support his family. A lot of sacrifices were made in spite of health concerns. Like many folks in the working class, money to support the family became a greater concern. Yet jobs like this can easily lead to death and sickness that can worsen the family’s struggle. No matter how horrible the job was, workers would still choose to work in order to support the family. After locating Marija, Jurgis learns that she became a prostitute. Sinclair describes the prostitute as “a population, low-class and mostly foreign, hanging always on the verge of starvation, and dependent for its opportunities of life upon the whim of men every bit as brutal and unscrupulous as the old-time slave drivers; under such circumstances immorality was exactly as inevitable, and as prevalent, as it was under the system of chattel slavery. (89) Sinclair uses simile to show that prostitution is just like slavery, it is inescapable once one starts.Yet, prostitution is stated as a positive work because it provides for the
Don’t call me Ishmael is a book about a 14 year-old teen boy struggling at school and also who hates his name. The book is by award winning author of the running man, Michel Gerard Bauer. The question we’re going to be reviewing the use of power of language through Miss Tarango with Barry and the chair challenge (Game), the Debating finals and Ishmael exposing Barry.
Alistair MacLeod’s The Vastness of the Dark is a carefully composed short story that is used to solidify an understanding of the startling realities that accompany one’s introduction into their adult years, as is the case for the protagonist, James. The insight provided by Macleod is evoked through his introduction of familial connections, occupational pressures, a longing for individuality, and subtle gestures of religious commitment. These topics weave a four-dimensional image that poses as a constant reminder to the reader of their role within one’s life experiences. These elements are presented by MacLeod as being most profoundly influential during the fragile transitional periods of one’s lifetime. MacLeod appears to represent this four-dimensional
In the book the Color of Water, Hunter Jordan, James ' stepfather, died of a sudden stroke when he was younger. His mother first married a man named Andrew McBride, that was James’ biological dad, but was only alive to see the moment where his mother, Ruth, re-married to Hunter. When he had died each one of them had a different way of grieving. Ruth rode a blue bicycle Hunter had brought in before he died. For example, James explains how his mother rides the bike around everyday and “... what the world thought of her, a nonchalance in the face of what i perceived to be imminent danger from the blacks and whites who disliked her for being a white person in a black world.” (McBride 8). She ignored everyone and everything that came across her.
The Color of Water is a memoir of James McBride’s life. James tells us about his struggles of childhood. In The Color of Water he went through phases which ranged between good and bad. James began to hang around with the wrong crowds and that did not develop him in a good way. He found out how it would affect him in the long run and decided to change how he was living.
Cinderella Man directed by Ron Howard tells the incredible true story of James J. Braddock a.k.a. the Cinderella Man. was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seen as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck just as much as the rest of the American during the Great Depression. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him was his family and that was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never lost his determination. Due to his continuous love and faith helped an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by hope and a better future for his family, kept winning. Suddenly, the man that was struggling to get a job at the dock became the mythic athlete. Soon he was carrying the hopes and dreams of the poor and needy on his shoulders, Braddock moved through the ranks, until he was chosen to do the unthinkable. Take on the
Where Triples Go To Die, by Phil Hutcheon, is a novel full of sports, race, romance, sex, and scandal. This novel will have people at the edge of their seats, wanting to read more. Throughout the novel readers are able to experience many real life situations. Readers are able to connect their own lives to the characters. I felt a connection to the characters as if I was experiencing what the characters were going through in the novel. The characters make this an interesting journey that will have readers wanting to read more.
Jurgis Rudkus, the main character in The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, has a very rough journey when he moves to America from Lithuania. He faces many hardships and they're difficult for anyone to endure. Throughout the novel Jurgis is put through the justice/prison system multiple times, and each time he experienced something new, whether it be the unjust treatment he received, the food he was served, or even the condition of his cell and daily life there.
The Great Depression was a devastating period in United States History, the economy collapsed, and a staggering 25% of the population was unemployed. During this time, there were large wage disparity gaps that were very prevalent, there was no middle class, you were either wealthy or you were poor. It was hard for family life to continue, parents had to take up two and three jobs to make sure their kids were staying safe, and well. Most of these jobs were odd-jobs, and were temporary with no sense of security. It was a struggle to find work, and no job was too demeaning for you to do, because you may not find work again. James J. Braddock, who is the main character in Cinderella Man, knows the struggle of the Great Depression, and how he did not take any chance for granted. A similar film, Rocky, which shows Rocky Balboa as an underperforming boxer, who gets his one shot at fame and does not squander it. The purpose of these two films were to show social class disparity. Through hard work and a bit of fortune, anyone can make it in the United States, as portrayed in these films. The use of lighting, camera angles, and sounds allowed for the accurate portrayal of these events.
Anne Marie MacDonalds novel Fall on your Knee’s raises a multitude of questions that are significant in the upbringing of a child. One key concept that is brought up is during the talk amongst the Taylor’s, after they give advice to a child. ““Good, I told him to ask you.” Adelaide believes that all children should have enough grown-ups around who love them so that one can tell them to fight, one can tell them not to and one can tell them not to worry so much.” This quote, holds great significance within the story given the times a child has required the moral, or educational guidance from an adult. Such as Materia Going to Mrs. Luvovitz in teaching her how to perform housewife duties, or aiding her in childbirth. However, a central notion
Jurgis goes on a journey with his wife to a new country looking for a job and ends up losing more than he ever thought he could lose. The character, Jurgis Rudkus, is a strong willed man who faces many difficult situations on his journey to find a job and to reunite with his in laws.
Every character in a story has feelings. Sometimes, those feeling or emotions shape who the character is and how they act. This is the case in the story “Everything will be Okay,” by James Howe. The main character, James Howe(yes, it is a personal narrative)is trying to fit into his family, but his emotions make him stand out. This is true because when animal is involved, he lets his emotions pour out. This isn’t how the rest of the family acts or how the want him act. He his conflicted about whether he loves his family due to the way they act towards animals. In the end, he makes a choice about whether to he is going to fit into his family or not, and this decision is decided by his emotions.
The movie Cinderella Man was incredibly accurate of what it was like to live in the great depression, in its portrayal of the characters, setting, and events of the movie.