The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Political Science

The Jungle

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the novel "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. Specifically it will analyze and critique four significant themes or aspects of the book with evidence of how the real world of politics and political institutions operate. One significant aspect of the book is when Jurgis becomes a "citizen" and votes, and then learns about democracy. He learns that votes can be "bought" and that the candidate with the most money wins. This is basically the same political process today, although now it is called "campaign contributions," but essentially, the candidate who can raise the most money and assail the people with political ads and PR is the candidate who has the best chance of winning the election. The intuition of electing a politician has evolved, but money is still at the core of U.S. elections.

Another important aspect of the book is the union strike, where Jurgis becomes a strikebreaker or "scab." At the time, unions and their political organization were necessary to protect the working people of America. Employers were taking advantage of them by paying low wages and requiring long hours of work, and by employing children, as well. The unions formed to protect the workers, and to stand up for them. Today, unions are still an important aspect of many industries, but their political clout has been reduced, and so has their usefulness. They are not as necessary any more, because there are federal guidelines and employment laws that guide business and industry in hiring practices and wages. The unions are representative of a political institution that has become outmoded and outdated, and perhaps, they will disappear in time, just as outdated political parties have disappeared.

Another vital aspect of the book are the meatpacking companies themselves, which are political institutions in their own right. They exist to make a profit at any cost, but they are also small communities, made up of many levels of workers and management, with a president or CEO at the top of the company, who has the most political power and prestige. The company has many different levels of organization, and oversees the lives of the people it employs, in that they spend most of their lives there, and receive a wage in return. They are supposed to be loyal to the company, and stand behind it in times of stress. The company supports others in the community, as well, in the form of taxes, bribes, and workers spending their income in businesses throughout the community. Thus, the company is a political institution with community influence, and the power that goes along with that influence. Political institutions all have several items in common, from group membership to support and influence in the community, as well as representing a large aspect of that community, and the packinghouses all meet these requirements.