I am reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair with 346 pages; I am on page 99. Apparently, the goal of Sinclair's novel is not great characterization. He barely even describes his characters, so it's difficult to choose favorite and least favorite ones.
             However, Jurgis is the least appealing character in the book. He seems fickle-minded, and later converts to Socialism. At the beginning of the novel, he firmly decides against joining a workers' union. Jurgis believes strongly in his own strength, and when his coworkers tried to force him into a union, "Jurgis got into a fine rage, and made it sufficiently plain that it would take more than one Irishman to scare him into a union" (Sinclair 57). Right now, Jurgis believes in making himself useful, doing what he does best, and getting paid for it based on his own strength (the virtues of capitalism). Later, Jurgis becomes a big proponent in his union and believes in people banding together, and such (socialist views). Sinclair sets everything explicitly so he can make socialism seem appealing. Basically, Jurgis bothers me so much because he is such an embodiment of Socialist propaganda.
             On the other hand, the strongest character is definitely Antanas, Jurgis's father. Again, the characters are not really characters but little extensions of Sinclair's master-planned web of Socialist propaganda, so it is difficult to choose. Dede Antanas always had a positive attitude and he always wanted to work his own share. Up until his death, he basically maintains these capitalist views. "...the old man insisted that he do the same [pay sixteen dollars per month rent] as soon as he got a place" (Sinclair 46). He does not want handouts; he would prefer to help support himself and his family. Sinclair kills him off though, possibly symbolizing the futility of capitalism. I guess we should all run off and vote Socialist, then?
             Jurgis and Antanas are my favorite and least favorite cha...