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The Role Of Capitalism In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

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What is the American dream? Many search for this “dream” of fortune only to be disappointed. We live in a capitalist society. Capitalism is “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit” (Lecture “Labor Theory: Karl Marx” 28th of January). As long as we are living in this system there will always be a hierarchy of classes. Most of us strive for jobs but, do not strive to be bosses. This is why most of us won’t be rich but, still we lust after this dream filled of fortune. I feel as though the greed that comes from capitalism takes a toll on your personal/ family life. Being a retail worker, one of things I have been told is to “leave your personal life at home”. I have …show more content…
While reading “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, I could relate to the struggles that Jurgis and his family endured even though this book was published 110 years ago. The guilt felt by missing work, not getting enough work in the slow months, being overworked with little compensation or just not feeling appreciated for the hard work that you; I felt it all. We work so hard to make money just to survive that we lose family time and special moments. I believe the American dream is a façade because we’re so busy trying to survive that we lose our fortune of not just money but our personal/ home life. “The Jungle” shows how chasing the American dream can lead to losing something so much more valuable; …show more content…
Like stated before, Jurgis finds out in chapter 18 that his family had lost the house (147-148). Everything goes downhill after this for the family. Jurgis loved Ona and she was part of the reason he worked so hard. She dies during premature childbirth along with the baby (158). In the next few pages, his son Antanas dies due to drowning in the street (175). Jurgis is losing his “happy” family one by one. He eventually leaves to find himself and ends up homeless due to lack of being able to find a job (184-192). Chasing the American dream destroyed Jurgis’ family. They came to America to better themselves and ended up in even more harsh conditions. Once Jurgis lost some of his family, especially Ona, it was clear that the money that they all were working so hard to obtain didn’t matter because they did not even get close to obtain their goal of fortune but, rather the family back tracked and probably were doing worst than what they were doing in Lithuania. They couldn’t get education, did not have money and barely had food; while the people that they worked for were basking in fortune. That is exactly how capitalism can sometimes tear at a family especially the working

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