The Jungle Group

Question:

girlygirlx3
girlygirlx3
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why is Jurgis always optimistic about the prospect of work in The Jungle?

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Posted by girlygirlx3 on Monday October 19, 2009 at 5:36 PM and tagged with american dream, characterization, jurgis, the jungle.

Answers:


  1. akannan Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Part of the reason why Jurgis believes in the positive nature of work is that he genuinely believes in the American Dream.  An essential part of this conception is the idea of the opportunity ideology.  This notion states that if individuals work hard, and struggle within the system, they will find success.  This motivates Jurgis to continue his believe that work is a positive venue.  He does this because he is an immigrant, and believes in America- its promises and possibilities.  In this conception, Jurgis believes that struggle is an essential component of this dream.  What he realizes after his endurance of life in the factory is that while the opportunity ideology is powerful, it does not take the place for fair and humane treatment of workers.  Simply because one has to work does not mean that individual rights and fair treatment must be discarded.  However, within the exposition of the novel, Jurgis does not fully understand the implications of such an idea.

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    Posted by akannan on Monday October 19, 2009 at 5:53 PM