The Jungle Study Guide

The Jungle

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

The Jungle is a 1906 novel by Upton Sinclair about the hardships and injustices experienced by immigrants to the United States. The novel follows the Lithuanian family of Jurgis Rudkis, who come to Chicago and soon find themselves living and working in appalling impoverished conditions, mistreated by employers and denied help or opportunities to succeed. Though the family is perhaps destroyed beyond repair, in the end Jurgis finds hope in a group of socialists who eventually employ him.

The Jungle Characters

Table of Contents
  • Jurgis Rudkus , a Lithuanian who immigrates to the US and struggles to support his family.
  • Ona Lukoszaite Rudkus , Jurgis' teenage wife.
  • Marija Berczynskas , Ona’s cousin. She dreams of marrying a musician. After Ona's death and Rudkus' abandonment of the family, she becomes a prostitute to help feed the few surviving children.
  • Teta Elzbieta Lukoszaite , Ona’s stepmother. She takes care of the children and eventually becomes a beggar.
  • Grandmother Swan , another Lithuanian immigrant.
  • Dede Antanas , Jurgis' father. He contributes work despite his age and poor health; dies from a lung infection.
  • Jokubas Szedvilas , Lithuanian immigrant who owns a deli on Halsted Street.
  • Edward Marcinkus , Lithuanian immigrant and friend of the family.
  • Fisher , Chicago millionaire whose passion is helping poor people in slums.
  • Tamoszius Kuszleika , a fiddler who becomes Marija's fiancé.
  • Jonas Lukoszas , Teta Elzbieta's brother. He abandons the family in bad times and disappears.
  • Stanislovas Lukoszas , Elzibeta's eldest son; he starts work at 14.
  • Mike Scully (originally Tom Cassidy ), the Democratic Party "boss" of the stockyards.
  • Phil Connor , a boss at the factory where Ona works. Connor rapes Ona and forces her into prostitution.
  • Miss Henderson , Ona's forelady at the wrapping-room.
  • Antanas , son of Jurgis and Ona, otherwise known as "Baby".
  • Vilimas and Nikalojus , Elzbieta's second and third sons.
  • Kristoforas , a crippled son of Elzbieta.
  • Juozapas , another crippled son of Elzbieta.
  • Kotrina , Elzbieta's daughter and Ona's half sister.
  • Judge Pat Callahan , a crooked judge.
  • Jack Duane , a thief whom Rudkus meets in prison.
  • Madame Haupt , a midwife hired to help Ona.
  • Freddie Jones , son of a wealthy beef baron.
  • Buck Halloran , an Irish "political worker" who oversees vote-buying operations.
  • Bush Harper , a man who works for Mike Scully as a union spy.
  • Ostrinski , a Polish immigrant and socialist.
  • Tommy Hinds , the socialist owner of Hinds's Hotel.
  • Mr. Lucas , a socialist pastor and itinerant preacher.
  • Nicholas Schliemann , a Swedish philosopher and socialist.
  • Durham , a businessman and Jurgis’s second employer.

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