The Jungle is a 1906 novel written by journalist Upton Sinclair. Sinclair wrote the novel to highlight the plight of the working class and to show the corruption of the American meatpacking industry during the early-20th century. The novel depicts in harsh poverty, absence of social programs, unpleasant living and working conditions, and hopelessness prevalent among the working class, which is contrasted with the deeply-rooted corruption on the part of those in power.
The book was a key piece of literature that led to the Food and Drug Act and helped to shine light on the terrible conditions in the Chicago meat-packing district.
When I read this book, it made me ask the same question that Angie proposed. So I did some research and spoke to my history professor at the time, who told me that most of the people who suffered most and who raised questions about the process were those whose voices were ignored (think immigrant groups and minorities).
This book, as it is stated lead to The Food and Drug Act. I personally haven’t read it but I am curious to know people’s mentality and the reasons why no one ever questioned the process of how meat was made or why there wasn’t specific dosages applied to drugs.
Now a days seemed very logical for these things to be requirements. It is hard to picture people eating anything without questioning its origins and/or the condition it was made in.
I read this book in middle school, highly recommended.