Stephanie SmogoleskiCP English IV 4 B4/8/2014PooThe world is made of economic competition that throws people into a whirlwind. Many, however, thrive, yet there are still some with scraped knees who have to dig in the dumpster. Throughout the modern history of society, it has been a constant struggle for virtually everyone. A world-famous example of this struggle is Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel, The Jungle. This groundbreaking book takes readers on a journey into a new world for a family of recent Lithuanian immigrants. The family traveled to America, which in the early 20th century was said to be the land where any man willing to work hard during the day would earn enough to live on and be able to support his family. It seems to be an ideal that every American is familiar with at least one of the foundations that have brought American society to where it is today. Yet as he tells his story, Upton Sinclair places the reader in a metaphorical war against capitalism. Sinclair's contempt for capitalist society is present from top to bottom, shown through Jurgis' enthusiasm for work, the fight for the workers of Packingtown, and the corruption that was forced upon man at all levels of society. Both capitalism and socialism are very relevant to The Jungle. Laissaz-faire capitalism is the leading economic system in America. All in all, this means that consumers and producers have the right to earn money and spend it by whatever legal means they choose. Capitalism is the system that best fits what people know as the “American Dream.” Some may believe that capitalism is the cause of much of the poverty Americans face, but any capitalist would explain away this inherent paper Darwinism. Darwin created the idea of ​​natural selection, proposing that those who are best suited live well in their environment and those who die. A relation to this idea is the corruption of Packingtown. It all starts when the family gets scammed by the real estate company and when Jurgis gets involved in an election scam, which eventually leads him to join the company. These cases prove that the only way to survive in Packingtown is to deceive those around you. Instead of the popular term “kill or be killed,” The Jungle has turned it into something that resembles “make a living off others or screw yourself.” Sinclair brings these ideals into his novel to connect yet another evil of capitalism. Suggests that if everyone were equal, there would be no need to scam others to make money, but due to hardship it is the only way to prosper.