The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, became an instant classic in 1906 and has probably become one of the most referenced books in history and science classes policies across the United States, according to Dustin LaBarge (LaBarge para.1). Sinclair's novel sparked global awareness of the disgusting meatpacking industry. I found the book intriguing, because of the details that were added to ensure nothing was left out. There were moments in the story that were too detailed in my opinion, which made me lose interest, but overall I discovered something I probably didn't know about. The story is based on the lives of two newly married Lithuanians, Jurgis and Ona. The story begins with their wedding reception, in Packingtown, the purpose of which is clear from the title. The two look forward to their future together, but dark clouds are already forming in the distance. As the ceremony draws to a close, they discover they haven't raised enough money to fully pay for the reception. Some Packingtown men have a habit of attending ceremonies uninvited and without paying. This is the first sign for Ona and Jurgis of what awaits them. The family emigrated to the United States in hopes of finding the American dream as it is called. Life in Lithuania was hard and they had heard nothing but good things about America. Throughout the novel, Sinclair continually praises Jurgis' physical strength and massive size in order to predict what will happen to him as the story continues. The family sees all the men outside the packing plants waiting to be selected for a job and instantly hesitates about their decision to come here. Jurgis, however, has no difficulty in being spotted middle of paper...... the control procedures would cost the government a lot of money. As he said: "I aimed for the audience's heart and, by accident, hit them in the stomach." Sinclair's wishes, however, were ultimately met by legislation in the second half of the 20th century that would protect and promote workers' rights. The Jungle offers vivid imagery and a fantastic storyline that should be an integral part of any book collection. (Schlosser p. 2) It is difficult, in my opinion, to stay connected to the book with the long paragraphs without interruption and the details that seem to go on forever. There were certainly some weaknesses in the book, but there were also strong points described by the author. Sinclair leaves out no detail, no matter how exhausting it may be. If he was trying to make people understand the injustice that was happening in Chicago at the time, he surely would have succeeded...