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' transformation is gradual, mirroring his gradual acceptance of socialism. Before he can accept socialism, he must experience and be victimized by another economic system, in this case, capitalism. Through experience, Jurgis learns that everything is not as it seems, and that blind faith is not necessarily a good thing. As Jurgis grows distrustful of the economic system in which he is enslaved, he realizes that he enjoys his family, particularly his son, only when he is not working. Unfortunately, for Jurgis and his family when he is unemployed, his family suffers financially. This relates to a larger theme-the effect the capitalistic system has o...