Question

In Chapter 2 of The Jungle, what does the novel convey about immigration and the immigrant experience during that period?

a) The novel portrays a positive and welcoming immigrant experience.
b) The novel highlights the challenges and hardships of immigrants during that time.
c) The novel ignores the immigrant experience.
d) The novel romanticizes immigration during that era.

Answer 1

In Chapter 2 of The Jungle, Sinclair conveys the challenges and hardships of immigrants, exemplified by Jurgis Rudkus's experiences in the meatpacking industry, highlighting exploitation and unsanitary working conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Chapter 2 of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, the narrative vividly portrays the challenges and hardships faced by immigrants in the early 20th century. This era saw a significant influx of immigrants, many of whom were fleeing political instability and looking for opportunities in the United States. However, upon arrival, many encountered a harsh reality that included poor working conditions, low wages, and exploitation. Sinclair's novel focuses on Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant, and his family as they navigate through the grueling and unsanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry in Chicago. Through Jurgis's struggles, Sinclair reveals the dirty and dangerous environments workers endured, the corruption that pervaded the industry, and the overall mistreatment of immigrants during that period.