Student Question
Why does Jurgis decide to control his temper and indignity after the wedding in The Jungle?
Quick answer:
Jurgis decides to control his temper and indignation after the wedding to avoid trouble. He is frustrated by the guests cheating his family out of money and the bar owner providing lower-quality goods than paid for, exploiting his political connections. Jurgis realizes that reacting with anger could lead to jail time or trouble with powerful community figures, compelling him to suppress his emotions for self-preservation.
Jurgis has to control his temper or else he will get in a lot of trouble.
He is angry because of all the people who are cheating the family out of money. The guests have come to the wedding feast and are happy to eat and drink what is provided. But many of them are cheating and are unwilling to help pay for the meal the way custom says they are supposed to. The bar owner is cheating the family by giving worse quality than they paid for, but nothing can be done because he has political connections.
Jurgis has to hold his temper down because getting mad at them will only get him thrown in jail or get him in trouble with the powerful people in the community.
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