Upon reading "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, I have learned many intriguing facts about the corruption of society and its exploitation to the proletariat class (working class). Jurgis Rudkus, the main character of the novel, had moved to Packingtown, Chicago from Lithuania, with his enormous family in hope of finding better job opportunities and a fresh start to a better life. Instead, his illusions and dreams of success or happiness are shattered when he is exploited to Packingtown's corrupted society. Through the journey of the novel, Jurgis overcomes many obstacles. He loses his wife, Ona and his only child Antanas. He also loses almost all the jobs that he has ever been successful in obtaining; but through all these hardships; a solution always finds its way, and in this case the only solution to Jurgis's problems was when he stopped living through his illusions but started reliving reality. He found this reality through a system of government called Socialism in which each person works according to his/her ability; and therefore each person receives according to his/her needs. At the conclusion of the novel, Jurgis realizes that there is so much more that he as well as anyone can do to help create a better society without destruction, exploitation and the corruption; which many people have faced at that period of time.
             I believe that Sinclair's purpose of writing this novel is to stir one's emotions and make them think about what kind of changes they can make to improve the world that they live in. People cannot be treated as animals (symbolic to the title "The Jungle") and be expected to work many hours with less pay and unsafe conditions. I believe that this book can especially affect the youth of our time to create a better future for themselves as well as other generations. I feel that Upton Sinclair proves his point in a pretty straight-forward way. He shows you how a person lives u...