The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair emphasizes many hardships that were present among immigrants during their journey to America. To overcome these hardships, Jurgis must be informed; by others that have experience and knowledge of the systems, and who have a familiarity with a seemingly new way of life. In The Jungle, Jurgis meets some key characters that help him manipulate and understand how to overcome many problems. Jack Duane, Bush Harper, and Mike Scully teach Jurgis about the unseen system and way of life that can be obtained by compromising and understanding the connection between politicians, businessmen, criminals, and Union's.
             In the novel Jurgis is sent to jail several times. After a bartender cheats Jurgis for his one hundred-dollar bill, he attacks him and sent to jail for his second time. Once more in prison he encounters Jack Duane who is a safecracker and seemingly knowledgeable criminal. Like their first encounter Jurgis and Jack talk about many different issues involving society. This time Jurgis is able to relate to their conversations and his views because he is now serving time without the thought of his family. One view that Duane sent upon Jurgis when nullifying an objection that Jurgis had was, "It was a case of us or the other fellow, I say the other fellow every time."(Sinclair 249).
             Jugis encounters his first premeditated plan when he meets with Jack Duane outside of prison. Duane attempts to steer Jurgis to an easier way of like though less honest. "He explained his plan-in facthe spent the day laying bare to his friend the criminal world of the city, and showing him how he might earn himself a living in it."(Sinclair 247).
             Duane is also the character that introduced Jurgis to the high-class criminal world of Chicago. He shows him a different view of, "The City, which was owned by an oligarchy of business men, being nominally ruled by the people, a huge army of
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