The Jungle

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With hopes of having a better life, a Lithuanian couple and their family set out to seek the "American Dream", only to find out later, that it becomes an "American Disaster". With his newly married wife, Ona and other relatives by his side, Jurgis, a Lithuanian immigrant makes his way to Chicago, optimistic that he has found success. Chicago at the time was a very sluggish impoverished society. Most of the agriculture involved meat packing and/or slaughtering hogs. This lifestyle, however, did not dismay Jurgis who ends up taking several jobs at these types of factories, especially, when things become unfortunate for his family. Jurgis is first introduced to the town of Packingtown, where he easily finds work and shelter for his family when they first arrive. With more than two family members (Jonas, Ona's step-uncle and Marija, Ona's cousin) working, Jurgis makes a decision to buy a house that he believes is new, but is about 15 years old. The house soon becomes a burden and consumes most of the family earnings for the expenses incurred. As times get harder for the family, many members are forced to seek employment. Antanas, (Jurgis's father) takes part in packing unsafe meat, despite that he will lose a portion of his wages. Ona obtains a job sewing covers on hams in a cellar; and Stanislovas (Teta Elzibeta's son) gets a job working a lard canning machine. Jurgis still optimistic determines that he "will work harder" to support his family through their tough endeavors.

Following the bitter cold winter season and the death of Antanas, Jurgis suffers severe cutbacks at the factory, leading him and convincing others to join the union .The union meetings become a regularly attended event for Jurgis and soon he learns English and be...

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... not like Jurgis, returned to their native lands in the first decade of the 19th century. Workers had to overcome the obstacles of surviving, finding and staying employed while many factories shut down, and obtaining proper healthcare. Most women in the workforce, especially, had to overcome sexual exploitation by their bosses who were usually men. An example of this type would definitely be the situations Ona and Marija went through as workers, later on taken advantage of by their bosses and turned into prostitutes at the local brothels. For those who opposed the harsh conditions, many set out to form organizations and/or join unions that would influence the reform of the capitalistic era. One of those individuals was Jurgis, who adopted socialism as a means of transforming his life and salvaging the lives of those who were tired of being oppressed by "wage slavery."

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