The Jungle

A quote I found quite interesting in my novel the Jungle by Upton Sinclair is about one of our main characters Jurgis Rudkis. “He did not drink or fight , because he was thinking all the time of Ona; and for the rest, he was a quiet, steady man, who did what he was told to, did not lose his temper often, and when he did lose it made the offender anxious that he should not lose it again. When they paid him off he dodged the company gamblers and dramstops, and so if they tried to kill him; but he escaped, and tramped it home, working at odd jobs, and sleeping with one eye open.” (page 26) This little excerpt here from the book just gave us a fantastic incite on one of the few main characters in the book, Jurgis. We learn Jurgis is quiet, rather chill guy and he respects what people tell him. He doesn’t really complain he just does what he’s asked. The part that really caught my eye in this quote was when they said when he lost his temper he was told not to lose it again. That shows discipline and we are shown early this Jurgis guys is a very disciplined man. The author is intending to portray this man throughout the book as the reliable guy that does his job and tries not to mess with anyone (or maybe not.) We will learn a lot more about him as this story goes on but so far he is a good guy that doesn’t drink or fight.