1997. Such scenes may reveal the values of the characters and the society in which they live. Discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Weddings are usually joyous occasions, symbolizing a new beginning. In The Jungle, Sinclair uses that cliché to introduce the contrast between the “American dream” and the reality of the novel. The scene, which should traditionally be filled with hope, sets the family off on their trail of hardships.
The wedding scene emphasizes the Rudkus' original innocence. The family invites everyone who walks past to join them, despite the cost of the bar and feast they'll have to pay for; they trust the people to give donations. They are more welcoming than they can afford; after eating and drinking, many of the guests sneak out of the building, leaving the poor family with a staggering bill. The behavior is shocking to the Rudkus family. It's a betrayal. The family, still, carries on with innocence and optimism, Jurgis confronting the situation by saying he “will work harder.” it's clear that they still believe in the America that had been advertised to them, a place for hope. The wedding sets up a place for the characters to fall from. It's the reference point to compare the darkness in the rest of the book with.
The family's traditional values go through a similar fall. In this environment, their generosity harms them. It's traditional to invite people nearby inside, but it's not as practical in Chicago as it was in Lithuania; the sidewalks are much more crowded. Their kindness, unrequited, is out of place. They're faced with people out for themselves, a foreshadowing to their own eventual loss of values.
The family, battered by harsh surroundings, is later broken. The structure of the novel is an ironic twist, beginning with a wedding and ending apart, again emphasizing the family's fallen hopes.
You said that Jurgis an his family stilled believed that America is "a place for hope." America IS still a place for hope. Jurgis and his family Should be hopeful for financial stability in the future. I think a more appropriate phrase to describe the advertised America would clear up the confusion. And again, don't leave out the meaning! What is Sinclair trying to say through using cliche to emphasize the contrast between the "American dream" and the reality? Keep up the good work! :)
ReplyDeleteI thought the wedding happened back in Lithuania, before coming to America. It seems from the examples you gave that the wedding was the beginning of their fall, not the place they fell from. Also you need to analyze how it affects meaning! You mostly describe what happened in the book, how did that impact the meaning of the book?
ReplyDeleteThis is really quite an interesting response, something I hadn't considered even having read The Jungle. I think you could look to improve your conclusion, as it seems to just end without retouching on how the scene contributes to the overall meaning. I think you could also delve a bit into what the family's future fall actually is, I think making direct comparisons from this to the wedding would better contribute to your response. Overall though, you did a great job.
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