Exploitation in The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

During the early twentieth century, the United State used industrialization and its capitalistic society to begin to emerge as an economic powerhouse. While the country had ample financial capital to withstand this rapid expansion, there was not a labor force adequate enough to meet demand. The solution to this problem was European immigration. Europeans were ecstatic to come to the United States, which they saw as a land of opportunity, to live the "American Dream". Despite the immigrants' aspirations to be successful, the United State's capitalistic society quickly crushed their high aspirations and entrenched them into lifestyle that controlled every aspect of their life. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle emphasizes the exploitation of immigrants as the attempt to obtain the unattainable "American Dream". By using the jungle metaphor for Jurgis's world, Sinclair is able to depict immigrants' struggles.

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle uses the journey of Jurgis Rudkis to depict the harsh lifestyle that immigrants faced upon arriving in America. Sinclair has used Jurgis to portray his belief of "capitalism as corrosive" (Phelps 25). Because of capitalism's corruption, the immigrants are forced to fend for themselves, giving up family and traditional values, all in an attempt to survive. Along with the deterioration of these values, the immigrants' labor proved to be in vein. Their hard worked achieved few benefits, as the gap between the rich and the poor began to rapidly grow. It was the occurrence of the Progressive Era that helped to bring an end to separation as "calls for progress through social reform rose to a crescendo" (Phelps 9). Despite the Progressive Era's emphasis on political and social change, most immigrants maintained unrealistic expectations of reform. None the less, The Jungle, had a tremendous influence on society during this time. By informing the growing middle class and receiving their support, change in the Progressive Era would begin to take place.

Upon arriving in the United States, most immigrants are uneducated and hold unrealistic concept of the "American Dream". Aspirations of a better life begin to disintegrate as Jurgis and his family instantly has to adopt a new language. Not being able to understand or speak English, they find it difficult to navigate new territory and satisfy basic needs (food and shelter). In addition to the language barrier, it is a combination of not being familiar with American culture and reality that exploits the immigrants. Whenever adversity arises, it is Jurgis's solution that he "will work harder" (Sinclair 61). It is his believe, by the "American Dream", that if he works hard enough, he will be promoted and receive better pay and benefits. As he first arrives in the United States Jurgis is a physical specimen, who immediately feels superior to other workers, and it is this feeling that allows him to quickly acquire a job. Jurgis's high spirits and enthusiastic work ethic soon being to falter and now sees that the workers are "as helpless as newly born babies" (Sinclair 137). After a period of working in the yards, Jurgis has come to a realization that the "American Dream" does not exist. Despite an enthusiastic work ethic, Jurgis now understands that no matter how valiant his effort, hard work will not allow the advancement of workers.

While Jurgis finally beings to realize the culture and the situation that he is in, his understanding has occurred to late. Driven by capitalism, industry now dominates every aspect of Jurgis's life. Industry, capitalizing the educated and unaware, now has immigrants "tied to the great packing-machine, and tied to it for life" (Sinclair 137). This process of controlling every aspect of immigrants' life beings when Jurgis arrives in packing town and begins to search for housing. Swindled by an industry owned housing development, Jurgis and his family purchase a house they believe is new and affordable. However, the contract is designed to deceive, forcing the new owners to pay interest and insurance. The company thrives on homeowners not being able to make these payments, so they reposes the house and sell it to another unaware immigrant.

Although the immigrants have begun to unite through unions, their efforts have little effect on the exploitation because the towns are centered around industry; it is the wealthy upper class that governs. Enjoying this power, the political process has become corrupted by those in power. During this time period, it is commonplace to pay off workers, workers who are desperate for money due to unlivable wages, to vote them or their political party. This need for money or obliviousness to the situation, keeps the workers without a voice in politics. While beginning to make headway, the industry has begun to find ways to suppress these unions. With the majority of immigrants unaware of the possible power of a union, the unions remained week and single workers did not concern industry leaders. If an individual was to rise up against the industry, they were blacklisted as "a means of keeping down union agitation and political discontent" (Sinclair 223). Once blacklisted, it was almost impossible to find another job in Packingtown. Large numbers or workers on blacklists were not important because everyday new unaware immigrants were arriving, so the supply for labor always exceeded the demand.

Although I believe the immigrants had unrealistic expectations of attaining the "American Dream", the publishing of The Jungle allowed for Americans to realize the travesty that was taking place. While Americans probably had some idea of the corruption within the industry, I do not believe they knew anywhere near exactly what actually was taking place. I do not blame the industry for trying to maximize profit and efficiency, but after a certain extent, exploitation is wrong. Most immigrants had a great work ethic, yet the white collar jobs reaped their benefits. Allowing the lower class immigrants to receive some sort of incentive, other than survival, to work would possibly increase profit even more.

Immigrants, who came to the United States for a better life, ended up getting entrapped in a "jungle" that exploited their every aspect of their life. Imprisoned and entrenched in a system of quasi-slavery, the immigrants' were treated as if they were animals. Surrounded by those similar to themselves, the lower class immigrants were oblivious to the lifestyles of their superiors. It is these same superiors that have institutions and policy in place to allow their system to continuously run in this manor. In a time were a laissez-faire economic policy was favored, political officials on a national level could now see regulation must be created to control industry. Sinclair's The Jungle proved to be a valuable tool in the Progressive moment, by informing the masses of the hardships that occurred in this "jungle" of industry. After reform and regulation occurred to reduce the exploitation (or "civilize the jungle"), immigrants now had a legitimate chance to achieve the "American Dream".