The Jungle Summer Assignment
The best way to describe the situation of the working class in early 20th century America is exploitive. The dictionary definition of exploitive is to use selfishly for one’s own benefit. In early 20th century America, exploitation is in every corner of business. Jurgis Rudkus and his family immigrate to America in search of a better life. As it turns out, in late 19th century America, life is even harder. As Jurgis begins to work at his new job at the meat processing plant, he is thrilled to bring in money for his family. However, he soon learns that with working in the factories, comes disease, injury, disgusting conditions, low wages and the fear of being let go. During this time period, working conditions …show more content…
The factory and business methods of treatment shown in The Jungle for the average workers are unjust and unregulated by the government. Standards such as minimum wage were not put into place in early 20th century, and workers are forced to be paid anything they could get because of the little amount of jobs available. Additionally, social programs such as welfare and food stamps are not yet issued to proletarians to assist with living expenses. On the other hand, government run law enforcement is corrupt. When Jurgis is cheated out of his money after trying to break up a hundred dollar bill at a bar, the police turn their heads and arrest Jurgis. The policeman has close relations to the bartender, so he takes his word after he “ went behind the bar, and after stowing the hundred dollar bill away in a safe hiding place, came and poured a glass of water over Jurgis” taking the bartender’s word instead of investigating the situation. (281). Later on, as Jurgis participates in organized crime to earn money, he discovers that “All of the agencies of corruption were banded together, and leagued in blood brotherhood with the politician and the police” (288-289). Government, law enforcement exhibits hypocritical actions that if found out by the public could ruin the honorable reputation of the government. Therefore, if the government assumes responsibility for factory workers, citizens would not have to succumb to illegal actions to make ends meet. All in all, hands off and corrupt government leads to the suffrage of poor immigrant families, without taking into consideration to correct these
The best way to describe the situation of the working class in early 20th century America is exploitive. The dictionary definition of exploitive is to use selfishly for one’s own benefit. In early 20th century America, exploitation is in every corner of business. Jurgis Rudkus and his family immigrate to America in search of a better life. As it turns out, in late 19th century America, life is even harder. As Jurgis begins to work at his new job at the meat processing plant, he is thrilled to bring in money for his family. However, he soon learns that with working in the factories, comes disease, injury, disgusting conditions, low wages and the fear of being let go. During this time period, working conditions …show more content…
The factory and business methods of treatment shown in The Jungle for the average workers are unjust and unregulated by the government. Standards such as minimum wage were not put into place in early 20th century, and workers are forced to be paid anything they could get because of the little amount of jobs available. Additionally, social programs such as welfare and food stamps are not yet issued to proletarians to assist with living expenses. On the other hand, government run law enforcement is corrupt. When Jurgis is cheated out of his money after trying to break up a hundred dollar bill at a bar, the police turn their heads and arrest Jurgis. The policeman has close relations to the bartender, so he takes his word after he “ went behind the bar, and after stowing the hundred dollar bill away in a safe hiding place, came and poured a glass of water over Jurgis” taking the bartender’s word instead of investigating the situation. (281). Later on, as Jurgis participates in organized crime to earn money, he discovers that “All of the agencies of corruption were banded together, and leagued in blood brotherhood with the politician and the police” (288-289). Government, law enforcement exhibits hypocritical actions that if found out by the public could ruin the honorable reputation of the government. Therefore, if the government assumes responsibility for factory workers, citizens would not have to succumb to illegal actions to make ends meet. All in all, hands off and corrupt government leads to the suffrage of poor immigrant families, without taking into consideration to correct these