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Book Review

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a novel which depicts the horrible and disturbing conditions inside the Meat Packing Factories of America. This novel focuses on Jurgis Rudkus, an immigrant working at Brown’s Slaughterhouse to make enough money to sustain himself. He does not have the money to support his family, and everyone in his family has to find work. This book shows how low pay, bad conditions, and unlucky events can lead to one’s moral decay.

While the focus of the book was intended to be the workers and what working under bad conditions can do to them, many were more concerned about the few pages written by Sinclair that describe the conditions in the factory, and how the meat was packaged and processed.

Sinclair describes a horrible scene. Rats running around everywhere, animals with diseases being slaughtered and packaged. This is what caught the attention of the readers. Everyone is talking about this, and demanding something be done. Whether the scene Sinclair describes is accurate or not, remains to be seen.

This book is well written and would be a good read for anyone who is interested in the topic of Slaughterhouses or the Meat Packing Industry.

Dear Jasmine…

Dear Jasmine,

I am new to this country and am very confused why everyone is so hateful here. I come from Italy and people there are nicer to me. When I walk in the streets of America, men call me a whore. I’m not a whore. Why do they call me this? What should I do about this and how can I make them stop?

Anna Marie

Dear Anna Marie,

I am so very sorry to hear what is happening to you and even sorrier to tell you that this country is a very hateful country. The native people of this country do not enjoy the immigrants trying to better their lives. I can tell you that one day they will stop, but for now you must be patient. Ignore them and hold your head high, they are only looking for your reaction to what they say.

Jasmine