THE JUNGLE By Upton Sinclair Upton Sinclair starts the book off by introducing the setting of two immigrants of America from Lithuania the country north east to Poland The two are about to get married and Sinclair gives examples of the traditional Lithuanian customs of marriages He also shows how it is difficult for Jurgis and Ona to keep alive the traditions being immigrants in America living in Chicago The couple relying on gifts of money from the guest as a tradition doesnt hold their end of
Jurgis is portrayed the idealistic portrait of the working poor in the United States At the beginning of the novel Jurgis is young strong optimistic devoted to his family and enthusiastic about his new start in America The progress of Jurgis disillusionment in his quest for the American Dream is seen after Onas death in which he abandon his family and resorts to a life of crime and corruption Jurgis strongly believed in the American Dream in which hard work grants you rewards and material succe