Socialism In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

“They had dreamed of freedom; of a chance to look about them and learn something; to be decent and clean, to see their child grow up to be strong. And now it was all gone” (Sinclair 1906, 138). This is the bleak picture painted in Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle. A disturbing critique of turn-of-the-century industrialism with pervading themes of poverty, anti-corporation, and socialism. A commentary that exemplifies the Progressive era and the embodiments of freedom that came with it. Through his detailed descriptions of the poor working conditions of workers in industries such as meatpacking and steel, Sinclair makes a strong case for government as a moral arbiter to protect workers. A class, the book concludes, that should rise up against their oppressors to form a new society free from problems such as wage slavery. This mentality perfectly encapsulates the Progressive ideology, a shift away from the traditionally liberal conception of freedom of individuality to a more collectivist approach, where there is a necessity for people in society to work together. Ultimately giving way to a new definition of liberalism and ushering in the idea of a welfare state. …show more content…
First, Industrial freedom requires the true legitimization of unions and worker stake in the company they work for. Second, Political freedom can be ascertained by the education of the working class to choose leaders that will prioritize their interests. Third, consumerist freedom exists in an industrialized world and people should choose how to live their life and not be forced down a single path. Taken together, The Jungle beautifully articulates collective freedom where people work together to solve social ills in society, helping to change liberalism to its contemporary meaning of the desire for a socially conscious