Similarities in The Jungle and The Age of Innocence
In both, Wharton's novel "The Age of Innocence" and Sinclair's "The Jungle," society has a direct effect on the characters. I am going to discuss the effects society has on a social type, immigrants, found in both novels; from Wharton's novel, Ellen Olenska, and from Sinclair's character Jurgis. Both are outsiders to the world around them and do not find it easy to join into society because of the social codes and standards of their new world. It is important for the reader to understand the times of the societies in both novels and how these two characters were affected by these codes. Both were not easily accepted into society and went through painful trial and tribulation. Immigrants, unaware of their new society, were expected to understand and follow along with their new society or be an outcast. These two characters's found this a difficult task to accomplish. In "The Jungle," Jurgis's journey through the judicial system, the economic system, and his personal moral system ends in failure leading him to sudden conversion of socialism. He starts out as innocent and trusting, but gradually grows wise to the ways of the world. Jurgis' t
, are available for houses, roads, etc. Throughout both The Jungle and The Age of Innocence, these two characters search for answers, for something that can provide guidance. Quickly, because she has lived in a less dissembling culture, she learns that beneath the surface are cruelty, judgement, and hypocrisy. No matter how much they love each other, they must not act on it in order to maintain social integrity. Like Jurgis, Ellen Olenska, the character in "The Age of Innocence," has conflict because of the society she is now a part of. Archer clearly explains this understood social code when she says that men are expected to have affairs as in "boys will be boys," but women are expected to be faithful to the end. To be married to a despicable husband who has numerous affairs and treats his wife badly is condoned by the social code, to divorce that husband is not. The living conditions of these people is hard to believe and therefore a reader should be aware that this was in the days before there were codes and laws on living conditions, wages, and sanitation. Not only is it important to see how these immigrants to America were outcasts in their new society, but also a reader must understand the mass amount of immigrants that lived in these areas. If a person considers breaking the code, the eyes of society are everywhere. The total area of the section between 39th Street on North, 51st Street on the south, Halsted Street on the east, and including streets, parks, etc. If, however, the van der Luydens extend a dinner invitation to socially accept Ellen, then the New Yorkers have a clear signal of what is expected. This shows us, the reader, the significant housing problem that people of the town encountered. This explains why Jurgis and his family led a life of hard work, poverty, and illness. Kennedy's critical reading, "Immigrant Wages and Family Budgets," he discusses the lifestyle of Jurgis and other immigrants: The population of this district, according to the census of 1910, was 48,413.
Common topics in this essay:
Ellen Yorkers,
Age Innocence,
Jungle Jurgis's,
Innocence Bildungsroman,
Ellen Archer,
Olenska Sinclair's,
Halsted Robey,
Halsted Street,
Unfortunately Jurgis,
Wharton's York,
age innocence,
social code,
economic system,
ellen olenska,
van der luydens,
capitalistic system,
jurgis family,
social codes,
van der,
system enslaved,
der luydens,
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Acceptance Essays
