The Jungle written by Upton Sinclair is a book about the family of Jurgis Rudkus, an immigrant family, moving to America and having to work in meat packing plants in Chicago in the early 1900’s. Cinderella Man directed by Ron Howard is a movie that takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s is about a American boxer, James Braddock, that has to survive with little money after getting hurt and not being able to box. Jurgis Rudkus and James Braddock are very similar throughout this book and movie. They go through hard times, but in the end they get what they want and have a much better life. In this essay I will compare and contrast their physical traits, relationships, and emotional traits throughout the book and movie. Both men are young when it starts out and they both are in really good physical shape. Jurgis is Lithuanian and James is Irish. They are both strong and can do almost anything they set their minds to. Jurgis and James are both dark featured. During the book Jurgis breaks his ankle and is unable to work. His family has to pick up the slack and work really hard trying to make enough money to get by. James also has bad luck in Cinderella Man by breaking his hand. He is able to …show more content…
In the beginning of The Jungle Jurgis believes he can do anything, he is big and when he goes to work the bosses see him and like him for the jobs. While James thinks he can do anything too. He is setting on top of the world when he is winning all of his matches until he broke his hand and the revoked his license. Both men fell like the whole world is against them in the middle of the book and movie. They are both poor and have to work hard to get money and both have to overcome obstacles to get where they want to be. In the end they both are happy to be with their family and they think they can do anything they but their mind
Cinderella Man directed by Ron Howard tells the incredible true story of James J. Braddock a.k.a. the Cinderella Man. was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seen as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck just as much as the rest of the American during the Great Depression. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him was his family and that was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never lost his determination.
James's father Hunter Jordan died from a stroke after marrying his wife Ruth. James says he was a hard working man and only wanted to provide for his family. To include, James said his father was,“... a quiet, soft-spoken man who wore old-timey clothes, fedoras, button-down wool coats, suspenders, and dresses nearly at all times, regardless of how dirty his work made him.” ( Chapter 2).
This proves that James is far more different compared to Ishmael or the other victims of bullying he is not afraid of
The characters make this an interesting journey that will have readers wanting to read more. This novel tangles the lives of two men from different racial and social backgrounds who are in different directions of their lives. Juke Jackson and Malcolm Wade create a bond and help each other through their struggles. They both are facing relationship struggles back at home. Wade was always there for Juke when he needed him.
In his youth, there seemed to have been an attempt for him to delve into literature, yet for the reading he was focused on varied from encyclopedia’s, philosophy, and historical events. However, these forms of literature that lacked the significant aspect of practical knowledge an adult would give. The modes of knowledge James obtained was intelligence rather wisdom. Yet throughout James’ life, he was constantly unable to delve in to any readings. Which is problematic given his father abandoned him, and his mother died when he was fifteen.
Jurgis Rudkus, the main character in The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, has a very rough journey when he moves to America from Lithuania. He faces many hardships and they're difficult for anyone to endure. Throughout the novel Jurgis is put through the justice/prison system multiple times, and each time he experienced something new, whether it be the unjust treatment he received, the food he was served, or even the condition of his cell and daily life there. The novel portrayed the justice system as an unfair one. They treat immigrants and the poor unfairly.
Those who put their money into stocks lost almost everything, including the Braddock family. In the movie Cinderella Man, James Braddock and his family show the struggle of life during the great depression. James, with no work available, struggled to win fights in boxing, in order to put food on the table for his family. Overall, Cinderella Man depicted many of the different aspects of the depression, and can provide a good explanation of what it was like for many families during that time.
This proves that although James is trying to or into his family, his emotion(s) put a major roadblock in his path. Another reason that supports this idea is on page 4. While and after the kitten is dying, he lets his emotions pour over and doesn’t care what his family sees of him, only about the dead kitten.
Upton Sinclair portrays the economic tension in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries through his novel “The Jungle”. He used the story of a Lithuanian immigrant, Jurgis Rudkus, to show the harsh situation that immigrants had to face in the United States, the unsanitary and unsafe working conditions in the meatpacking plants, as well as the tension between the capitalism and socialism in the United States during the early 1900s. In the late 19th century and early 20th centuries, there were massive immigrants move into the United States, and most of them were from Europe. The protagonist, Jurgis Rudkus, like many other immigrants, have the “America Dream” which they believe America is heaven to them, where they can
In the early chapters of James’ story,
“Cinderella Man”, a movie based on the Great Depression, was released in May 23, 2005. This movie is nonfiction, and is based off James Braddock’s life trying to make a living in devastating times. Will they be able to survive? Although Jurgis and James both have a good work ethic, they have many similarities and differences in their physical traits, family dynamics, and personal
In “ The Jungle”, the author Upton Sinclair states that “ I aimed at the public's heart and by accident I hit it in the stomach”. This means that Sinclair wanted to muckrake the Meat Packing Industry to seek attention for the workers, but instead food became a bigger concern. The characters Jurgis, Ona, and Marija with fellow family members are Lithuanian immigrants who came to PackingTown in hope for a better future, however they came to realize that the whole town is run by capitalist. Although Sinclair intentionally uses metaphors and similes to depict the characters struggle in the horrible living and working conditions in Packingtown, his purpose is undermined and overlooked by his use of realism to depict the food process.
In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, Jurgis and his family attempt to survive in a malicious society. In this jungle of a town, rotten meat is being packaged in order to save money. Throughout the novel, the immigrants are faced with greedy capitalists who take advantage of the family’s ignorance and naivety in order to make money. The symbols of corruption, a jungle-like setting, and the tension between family and a work-based lifestyle transparently contribute to the unifying theme of anti-capitalism. In other words, this book is not art; this book is propaganda.
Growing up, the only father, James knew was Hunter Jordan. James biological father died before he was born. Hunter was the stable male of the family and was James role model. On weekends Hunter would come home and provide them with food and supplies they needed. In The Color of Water James states “He came home only on weekends, striding into the living room with bags of groceries, Entenmann’s cakes, a pocketful of dough, and a real live automobile
He perceives the town as being a force that holds him back from achieving his true potential. It is clear to the reader that James, understandably, feels a sense of obligation from his family, as well as their values. This suddenly begins to repel him from the various demands of the struggling mining town he has been confined to. At this point, the stage is set for another profound dimension to emerge throughout the narrative of The Vastness of the Dark. This dimension is the significance of familial relationships.