1
American Dream as an Ideology for American
ImmIgrant Workers In Upton sInclaIr’s The Jungle
Irfan Roshadi
ABSTRACT
American Dream memiliki daya tarik magis yang membuat banyak orang datang ke Amerika untuk mengadu
nasib. Kesempatan untuk meraih kesuksesan dan kekayaan sebagaimana dijanjikan American Dream telah mendorong
migrasi masal ke Amerika, khususnya pada masa yang dikenal sebagai era New Immigrants di akhir abad ke-19.
Kedatangan imigran ini menimbulkan masalah ketika sebagian besar para pendatang yang tergiur untuk meraih
kekayaan dan kemakmuran ini tidak memiliki keahlian, latar pendidikan dan dukungan finansial yang memadai
sehingga mereka hanya dapat bekerja sebagai buruh. The Jungle bercerita tentang perjuangan keluarga imigran asal
Lithuania yang tergiur meraih kesuksesan dan kekayaan ala American Dream. Menganalisa novel The Jungle dengan
menggunakan konsep ideologi Marxist, penelitian ini akan memaparkan cara kerja American Dream dan arti
pentingnya bagi industri di Amerika. Dalam tulisan ini disimpulkan bahwa American Dream hanyalah sebuah ideologi
yang berupaya membujuk orang agar berpartisipasi dalam proses produksi industri Amerika. Kelangsungan industri
Amerika dalam The Jungle berada di balik berkembangnya ideologi American Dream dalam masyarakat Amerika,
khususnya di kalangan imigran.
Keywords: American Dream, ideology, industry, New Immigrants
1. Introduction
Living in prosperity is people’s right. As people today are becoming more aware of their roles and rights
in the society, they are demanding for equality and liberty that will enable them to pursuit their dream of
achieving prosperity. In a modern nation like the United States of America, this idea has been welldeveloped as American true identity. The Declaration of Independence of America clearly states that “We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. This
statement is very important in showing America as a nation that honors the idea of liberty and equality.
Another proof on how America honors the ideal of liberty is the development of American Dream within
American society.
The term “American Dream” was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America.
The term refers to the hope promised by America to thousands of people who demanded for liberty and
equality in pursuing their dream to have a better life.
The American Dream was beginning to take form in the hearts of men. The economic motive was
unquestionably powerful, often dominant, in the mind of those who took part in the great migration, but
mixed with this was also frequently present the hope of a better and freer life (Adams, 31).
This idea was celebrated by millions of people outside America who suffered from hardship in life such
as famine and great draught. Hundreds of immigrants from different parts of the world rushed into America
for one goal, which is American Dream. American Dream somehow had created a small hope for these
desperate people who were willing to work hard in order to earn money and high social rank that they could
never have in their homeland.
The arrival of immigrants to America was started in the late 17 th century, marked by the arrival of
Northern Irish into America. In the late 19th century, the number of immigrants coming to America
increased significantly. The era known as the New Immigrants era was signified by the characteristics of
immigrants that become more various in both races and religions. The waves of new immigrants represented
a variety of cultures and forms of social organization that were totally alien to the whites of Northwestern
2
European origin who had preceded them (Lieberson, 20). The era of New Immigrants was not only signified
by the variety of immigrants but also the motives behind their migration into America. Most immigrants
coming to America before the period of New Immigrants mostly fled from their origin country because of
the religious and political persecution. However, most immigrants during the period of New Immigrants
were mostly driven by economic cause, namely due to drought and famine that occurred in their country.
These immigrants wanted to start a new life in America as America assured them a liberty to pursuit their
dream. America is more than a country, it is an idea with concept like freedom, most new immigrants buy
into this idea, that is one of the reasons they want to be here (Green, 5).
The Jungle brings to the reader the story of New Immigrants families from Lithuania that chase after the
American Dream. The main character, Jurgis Rudkus and his families decide to flee from their homeland to
come to America. The family discovers America as a potential land to realize their dream of being
successful and wealthy. This dream will never come true for them in their homeland, Lithuania, as they are
suffering from great draught that causes their crop fail. As the families learn from their neighbor that they
can make more money in America, they collect their savings to go to America. However, what they are
going to experience is far from their expectation. In America, this family has to work in factories in Chicago
with bad and dangerous working environment. This family is forced to do this kind of job because they see
“being a labor” is a path to realize their American Dream. The Rudkus is only a peasant family who do not
have adequate money or skill; moreover, they cannot speak English. This family represents of millions of
immigrants who chase after the American Dream.
The Jungle was a novel written by Upton Sinclair as a criticism towards the established industrial system
in the United States. Sinclair was known as an American muckraker journalist. He won a Pulitzer Prize in
1943 for his book entitled Dragon Teeth. He had several works that criticized the social and economic
condition in America, and one of them is The Jungle. The publication of this novel created a mass hysteria
in the America that encouraged Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States at that time, to issue
the Pure Food and Drug Act demanding a strict inspection to the food processing factories.
President Theodore Roosevelt had read The Jungle and dispatched two agents to Chicago to verify
Sinclair's claims, whereupon they reported "meat shoveled from filthy wooden floors … in all of which
practices it was in the way of gathering dirt, splinters, floor filth and the expectoration of tuberculosis and
other diseased workers (Tichi, 1)
The title of this novel can be considered as representing the condition of United States in the era of New
Immigrants especially in Chicago. Sinclair portrayed America as a jungle, a term that refers to the condition
of society where the one who is strong in economy and influence will be able to rule the society. Sinclair
clearly depicted this issue in his novel as he portrayed factory owners as the ruler of the jungle. By using the
background of Chicago’s industrial society, Sinclair showed the dominance of the factory owners over the
society. One of the factories that he portrayed in his novel is Durham, a meatpacking factory in which
Rudkus works. Sinclair showed his readers how the meatpacking factory owners are able to control the
laborers to obey their rules. He also showed how the factory uses inappropriate and dangerous meat, like
fetuses and rotten meat, into its food products. These dangerous products are then consumed by the public
without a strict inspection from the government. This novel clearly portrays how institutions represented by
the police and health inspector can be easily bribed. In general, the factory owners seem to rule every social
structure of American society, from the process of employment, production and distribution.
The dominance of factory owners over society cannot be separated from the ideology that lies within a
particular society. The ideology spreading in the society has a role to influence them to do what the ruling
class wants. By analyzing this novel, this study has discovered that American Dream contributes a lot in
influencing American society to obey the rules set by industry owners. Rudkus’ dreams of being successful
also make this domination seem possible. It showed that American Dream had played a significant role in
influencing American society, especially immigrant workers to follow what the factory owners want.
As this study aims to reveal the operation of American Dream in the idea of American immigrants
workers as portrayed in The Jungle, it is going to uncover how American Dream as an ideology has
managed to influence American immigrant workers to do what has been told by the ruling class, especially
the industry and factory owners. This study will also discuss the role of American Dream in American
3
industries as portrayed in The Jungle. In accordance, this study will focus on the development of the idea of
American Dream among American immigrant workers who are affected the most by American Dream.
These immigrants’ expectation of success is the important key to the development of American industries.
This study is expected to contribute on the study of American society as portrayed in literature as it
concerns with the operation of the ideology of American Dream in American society. As most people agree,
literature reflects the actual condition of particular society, the story portrayed in The Jungle also occurred in
the real American society. Therefore, this study does not only about characters in a novel but also real
American society represented in the novel.
This research is conducted through qualitative method. To collect data, library research is used to gather
data from two kinds of sources that include printed and online sources. Related studies on the issue of
American Dream or American immigrants also become an important source to support arguments. The
theory used to analyze the novel is Marxist Literary Criticism. In revealing how American Dream as an
ideology operates within American immigrant workers, this study will explain how these immigrants
perceive American Dream. Meanwhile, to outline the significance of American Dream towards American
industries, this study will relate the ideology with the domination of the ruling class. In discussing this issue,
this study relies heavily on the concept of Marxist Ideology as the theoretical framework. Althuser’s concept
of Ideological State Apparatuses is believed to be able to support the arguments related to the significance of
ideology towards industries.
2. Discussion
2.1 American Dream as an Ideology within American Society in The Jungle
Ideology refers to such things as illusory ideas, false ideas determined by class interest, class-conditioned
thought, unfounded ideas manufactured at the prompting of an unconscious wish or interest, and a body of
justificatory beliefs (Parekh 1). Thus, ideology influences people to do things desired by the ideology maker.
When Jurgis Rudkus and his family decide to migrate to America, they sell all their possession in order to
finance their trip to America. They believe that America is the only place for them to realize their dream of
being successful and wealthy. Their high expectation of America does not come up by itself because there is
something that triggers the Rudkus to come up with this idea. The first factor is the hardship they have
experienced that forces them to move out of Lithuania. Another factor is the assumption that they, as well as
other desperate immigrants, are needed in America.
If America needs Rudkus and other immigrants, it must be able to convince these immigrants to pay a
visit. America has offered them American Dream, something that can only be achieved in America.
American Dream somehow has a huge contribution towards the mass migration into America. The
emergence of American Dream in the mind of immigrants is somehow conditioned. In the novel, it is stated
that the factory owner is the one who is responsible for planting the idea of American Dream in the
immigrants’ minds. “Durham had sent his agents into every city and village in Europe to spread the tale of
the chance of work and high wages at the stockyards” (70). Through ideology, the ruling class attracts
thousands of immigrants to try their luck in America.
American Dream has also blinded Rudkus family from seeing the fact that there is a chance of failure in
realizing their dream in America. America is one complex nation rather than a fairy land where everyone
can become rich. Rudkus and his family are only poor peasants who do not have high educational
background and adequate skills. There is a bigger chance for this family to be eliminated in competing with
other immigrants. This family and other immigrants do not notice on the possibility that they will not be able
to realize their American Dream but rather they only concern on how their American Dream can be
achieved. Their efforts in achieving success and wealth may vary depending on their capabilities and
background. If an immigrant is willing to work hard, the factory can provide a job that is also desired by
other immigrants. On the other hand, if this immigrant is willing to earn money easily, he may fall into
crime like what Rudkus did after he is fired from the factory.
The American dream, much like the state lotteries or the bigbucks sweepstakes that are its latest
incarnation, opens the possibility that anyone can win, and, like gambling addicts, we cling to that
4
possibility (Tyson 58). The Jungle shows how Rudkus family as well as other immigrants put their life and
future at stake. The reason they migrate to America is because they find that one of their acquaintance has
earned a lot of money and become rich in America. “It was Jonas who suggested that that they all go to
America, here a friend of his had gotten rich” (26). Although their acquaintance may be successful in
America, actually it does not guarantee Lithuanian immigrants like Rudkus and his family will also become
successful in America. Rudkus and his family put all of their life and future at stake in order to become
wealthy like their acquaintance.
One thing that has to be noticed is the fact that Rudkus decides to move to a big city like Chicago rather
than to the country. He has never visited America or even a city before but he and his family insist on
heading to Chicago. “And this was the fact, for Rudkus had never seen a city, and scarcely even a fair-sized
town, until he had set out to make his fortune in the world” (26). There is actually a bigger chance for
Rudkus and his family to succeed in America if they decide to migrate to the country instead of a big city.
First, this family used to be peasants in Lithuania; therefore, they must have had enough knowledge about
farming and raising cattle in the country rather than being a laborer in meatpacking factories. Another reason
is the overflowing of job vacancy in the country. Rudkus finds that farming fields in the country need many
workforces during harvest time. He does not have to compete with thousands of other unemployed
immigrants in the city to find a job. Many job vacancies are provided in the country, such as a harvester or a
cattle raiser, which actually suits him and his family. In the novel, it is told that a farmer offers Rudkus a
steady job in his farm but Rudkus refuses this offer although the farmer can provide Rudkus a lodge and free
meal. The farmer’s offer will not change Rudkus’ mind to live and work in the city.
Rudkus cannot resist the industries’ temptation. America with all of its advanced industrialization have
attracted immigrants like Rudkus to take a part. “He had the feeling that this whole huge establishment had
taken him under its protection, and had become responsible for his welfare” (45). The rapid development of
American industries represented by huge buildings in Chicago can be considered as their shortcut to realize
their American Dream. Rudkus’ interest on American industry is somehow arranged. American Dream is an
ideology engineered by the American ruling class who expects more people to participate in the American
industries. As stated earlier that it is Durham agents who are responsible for the spread of rumors in entire
Europe about the chance of being rich. Most immigrants are tempted by the rumors which then make them
believe that industrial city like Chicago will make them rich. The unskilled immigrants who will become
laborers do not realize that they do not have an advantageous position in the industrial society of Chicago.
Their participation in the industries is something that has been arranged by the capitalist as the ruling class.
As Althusser argues the ruling class base their domination and exploitation of the 'people' on a falsified
representation of the world which they have imagined in order to enslave other minds by dominating their
imaginations (164).
Another thing that needs to be criticized from Rudkus’ migration to America is his concept of America.
In the early part of the novel, it is stated that Rudkus believes that "in that country, rich or poor, a man was
free" (27). He has never visited America before but how can he say so? What Rudkus knows about America
is merely hearsay. He is told that America is a land of freedom. What he hears about America does not
always reflect the actual condition of American society. Although he does not have any idea about the actual
condition in America, he and his family insist on migrating to America. He and his family strongly believe
that America will provide them freedom. Rudkus’ depiction of America is very utopian because America is
not as free as he thinks. In fact, there is no single person in this world who is free since people are always
bound to rules and orders within the society. As long as people live in a society, they are forced to obe y
these orders and rules. The social structure of particular society induced the members of society to
internalize the established order and rules. In industrial society where workers are meant to produce goods,
the concept of freedom and liberty is very impossible to reach. Each class has their own role in the society
and each of them is bound to the society. Workers like Rudkus must follow their role that has been
determined by the society, which is to present their labor power for the capitalists.
Rudkus and his family have become the subject of ideology which is American Dream. American Dream
contributes greatly in dragging them from their homeland into America and makes them believe in an
illusory depiction of American society. As ideologies constitute an illusion, we admit that they do make
5
allusion to reality, and that they need only be 'interpreted' to discover the reality of the world behind their
imaginary representation of that world (Althusser 136). American Dream makes Rudkus and his family
believe that industrial society like Chicago is their only way to achieve their dream of being wealthy and
successful. American Dream also has convinced them that America is the land of the free, both for the poor
and the rich.
2.2 American Dream as a Pacemaker for the American Industries
Within industrial society there are two essential components to make the industry within the society run
properly: those are the natural resources, and productive force. These two things are the basic requirement
for industry to run. An absence of any of these two components may disrupt the process of production for
the industry in a particular society. In America, these two components have been provided. America is a rich
nation that provides a lot of natural resources for American to use. America has gold, oil, timber and many
potential natural resources that can be processed. The overflowing of natural resources in America was also
followed by the overflowing of workforces resulted from the mass migration especially when the potato
blight swept over most European countries.
The motive behind this exodus to America is almost similar, which is to chase after the American
Dream. These immigrants are offered the possibility of being wealthy and successful in America. American
Dream is driving Rudkus and his family away from their homeland in Lithuania. Chicago is then populated
by Rudkus as well as other immigrants who are dreaming of achieving their American Dream.
Unfortunately, Rudkus and most of the immigrants do not have high educational background, adequate skill
and money. The only job that suits them in Chicago is laborer that does not require high educational
background and skill. The overflowing of immigrants in Chicago is very advantageous for the capitalists
whose needs of workforces can be easily fulfilled.
The capitalists especially the factory owners can easily pick one of these immigrants into their factory.
They can replace any laborer that works in their factory with one of these immigrants that suits their needs.
“Jurgis had gone to Brown's and stood there not more than half an hour before one of the bosses noticed his
form towering above the rest, and signaled to him” (35). The boss of Brown’s chooses Rudkus who has
strong physical build to replace his worker who cannot satisfy him. The boss of Brown’s realizes that he has
to replace his workers frequently because it can determine whether the factory can run properly or not.
“All the year round they had been serving as cogs in the great packing machine; and now was the time
for the renovating of it, and the replacing of damaged parts. There came pneumonia and grippe, stalking
among them, seeking for weakened constitutions; there was the annual harvest of those whom tuberculosis
had been dragging down” (82).
The capitalists realize that sooner or later the workers who work for them will be unable to work again
for them. There is always a possibility that these immigrants get sick and die or join a strike against them.
There will be a moment for Rudkus who works in the factory to be replaced by other immigrants who are
more capable and vigorous. “In the beginning Rudkus had been fresh and strong but now he was secondhand. They had got the best of him—they had worn him out, with their speeding-up and now they had
thrown him away!” (126). The industries need labor to run, and capitalists must be able to fulfill the
industries’ need of workforce. Fortunately, the capitalists’ anxiety on the availability of workforce can be
solved due to the overflowing of immigrants who are looking for American Dream. The presence of Rudkus
and other immigrants in America can fulfill the American industries’ need of workforce.
American Dream as Rudkus and other immigrants believed also teaches them to work hard. The dream
of being wealthy and successful can only be achieved by working in America. However, the only profession
that suits these immigrants is only being a laborer, and this becomes their only way to realize their American
Dream. Rudkus is very pleased after he finds that one of the bosses in Chicago wants to employ him in the
factory. “Jurgis turned away, and then in a sudden rush the full realization of his triumph swept over him,
and he gave a yell and a jump, and started off on a run. He had a job! He had a job!” (35).
These unskilled immigrants are destined to be the laborer and their presence in America is only meant to
serve the industries’ need of workforce.
6
As these unskilled immigrants have high expectation for America, they need to work and earn money for
their living. They will be so grateful if they are managed to survive and get a steady job in Chicago. When
these immigrants work, they will earn salary. The salary is used to pay for housing, food and clothing, in
short to enable the wage earner to present himself again at the factory gate the next day -- and every further
day God grants him (Althusser 131). The salary that is given to the laborer is not only intended for the
advantage of the laborer but also for the factory and industry owners. The salary is used to make sure that
the labor will come in the next day to work in the factory. This will secure the process of production in
industry. The availability of workforce that will produce goods for the factory will be secured because
worker will go to the factory again and again to earn money. “The laborer passed down the busy street that
led to the yard. It was still early morning, and everything was at its high tide of activity. A steady steam of
employees was purring through the gate employees of the higher sort” (36). These unskilled immigrants will
knock on the door of the factory owner to find a job. Working as a laborer is the only way for them to realize
their American Dream that is somehow very far from their reach. The factory owners do not have to bother
to find the labor they need for the survival of the industry as these immigrants will present themselves to
these owners.
Since every immigrant is expected to work and earn money to realize the American Dream, there is a
belief in Rudkus’ family that any family member who does not work will only be a burden in the family.
Unemployed family member is a threat to their American Dream. Rudkus’ aged father named Dede Antanas
has to go to work in order to make some money for the family. He has to work even though no factory in
Chicago is willing to employ an old man like him. Thus, Antanas decides to bribe one of the factory owners
to employ him in his factory. Finally, Antanas gets the job in factory which means he can make money for
the family. The children in the family even have to be forced to work to support the family. “Teta Elzbieta
had decided that little Stanislovas would have to work too. It was not fair to let Jurgis and her support the
family—the family would have to help as it could” (74).
Rudkus and his family have dedicated all of their life for the factory in Chicago that will give them
salary if they can satisfy the factory owner. There is nothing, not even an injury, that can prevent Rudkus to
present himself at work. Rudkus wanders from one factory to another to look for a job even though his foot
is still injured. Rudkus realizes that there is a rent to pay, there is a mouth to feed and there is a dream to
realize, and the only way for him and his family to fulfill their needs is by working in the factory.
American Dream that has attracted millions of immigrants into America has encouraged the development
of American industries. The availability of laborers that was increasing from time to time made the factory
owner can easily fulfill their needs for workforces. A constant flow of immigrant from Europe, Asia and
Latin America helped to make all of this fortune-building (industry and capitalism) possible (Blank 6). The
development of American industry is strongly influenced by the American Dream that is believed by
immigrant workers like Rudkus. The contribution of American Dream as the pacemaker for American
industry is not only represented by the overflowing of immigrants who seek for the American Dream but it
is also represented by the willingness of the immigrants to be a laborer for the American industries to
achieve the Dream.
2.3 American Dream as the Reproduction Tool of Submissive Behavior
The capitalists have to reproduce the laborers’ obedience towards the established social order, in which
they are meant to produce goods for the capitalists. One thing these capitalists in Chicago try to emphasize is
that they are the boss. They want to show the society that they are more dominant than other classes in
Chicago; consequently, they can determine the life of others. As the ruling class in Chicago, they can do
almost anything. For example, they can change policies that are somehow very disadvantageous for them.
As the ruling class, they have the capability to determine how Chicago is supposed to run.
The capitalists want their workers to submit to their order and rules as Althusser argued that the
reproduction of labor power requires a reproduction of its submission to the rules of the established order
(133). In order to create a submissive behavior towards the established order, the ruling class tries to
implement the concept of “reward and punishment”. Thus, it is the task of American Dream to influence the
laborers to be submissive towards the rules set by the ruling class that reflects the interest of industry
7
owners. Immigrants come to America for American Dream; thus, if an immigrant like Rudkus keeps
working and submits to the established order, he will get a reward in a form of a chance of being wealthy
and successful. On the other hand, if Rudkus disobeys the rule, he will receive punishment. Punishment
could be given in a form of dismissal, which is very disadvantageous for them. Therefore, the only way for
them to achieve their American Dream is by submitting to the rule of the owners.
The unskilled immigrant workers who work in the factory are haunted by the dismissal that can happen
anytime. They put their life on the capitalists’ hand. They must be able to satisfy the capitalists’ needs to
prevent the dismissal. However, dismissal is not always caused by violation to the rules done by the worker
since the dismissal depends only on the capitalists’ decisions. In other words, laborer’s dismissal can happen
due to the capitalists’ favor as immigrant workers can be dismissed anytime the capitalists want. At least if
these workers submit to the capitalists’ rules, they are not likely to be dismissed even though it does not
guarantee their position in the factory will be secured.
The boss of Durham meatpacking factory needs workers who submit to the rules and orders that has been
created to give him more money. Since profit is the main goal of the industry, the boss of Durham will
prioritize it and disregards other factors like worker’s welfare and conditions. “There was no heat upon the
killing beds; the men might exactly as well have worked out of doors all winter” (83). The boss of the
factory does not provide a heater for the workers during the winter because it costs him more money. These
laborers are reluctant to complain about this condition because they are paid only to work in the factories. If
the laborers start to get demanding due to the condition in the meatpacking factory or they cannot work fast,
the manager will not hesitate to fire the laborers. “Each day they added new workers, and could be more
stern with the old ones – could put them on piece-work, and dismiss them if they did not keep up the pace”
(272).
Getting sick can also result in dismissal for these workers, and soon they will be replaced by other
workers that can meet the boss’ requirement. “Yet old Antanas would not quit; he saw the suffering of his
family, and he remembered what it had cost him to get a job” (81). What prevents Antanas from leaving the
job in meatpacking factory is the fact that he is expected to earn money. There is American Dream that has
to be achieved by the family. Antanas really needs that job and he will do anything to secure his place in the
factory. The chance of being wealthy and successful makes him submit to the capitalists’ rules. What worker
like Dede Antanas has to do is working in order to earn money to realize the American Dream.
There is a strong tendency to see unemployment as individual failure and the “inability” to bounce back
as further evidence of that failure (Perucci 2). Most American thinks that the unemployment is natural as the
consequence for indiscipline but actually it is a tool used by the factory owner to make the laborers obey.
The factory owners must be able to make their workers submit to their orders. It is the nature of class
division in which one class dominates others. Either the factory owner or the labor who will reign in the
society is determined by the power the class possessed. The factory owner is advantaged because they are
the ruling class in Chicago. There are no options for a laborer like Rudkus but to obey the rules since the
disobedience results on the dismissal. Furthermore, the dismissal means a threat for the realization of the
American Dream.
Dismissal is like the concept of “reward and punishment” implemented by the factory owners. If a
laborer like Rudkus obeys the capitalists’ rules, he will be rewarded and it means a possibility of being
successful and wealthy. On the other hand, if he disobeys the rule, it means a step further from his American
Dream and he has to start all over again. He has to compete again with thousands of people only to get a
steady job. Therefore, the laborers do not have any choice but to obey the rules because there is a
punishment for any violation. This kind of order has created a submissive behavior among the laborers. The
dream of being successful and wealthy made these immigrant workers submit to the rules set by the factory
and industry owners. The dismissal means a threat to acquire their main goal of migrating to America, which
is the American Dream. American Dream has done a great job in creating submissive behavior among
immigrant laborers.
8
3. Conclusion
American Dream has helped American industry to flourish. The industry was largely influenced by the
overflowing of immigrants, i.e. immigrants who expect a chance for being fuller and richer in America.
Industry and factory owners are advantaged by this situation since they are not only able to hire cheap labors
but also to control and manipulate the attitude and behavior of their labors. The possibility of having a
chance to be wealthy and successful as glorified by Amerian Dream can be considered as an attraction for
people around the globe to come to America to meet the needs of American industries’ for workforce.
Unlucky immigrants like Jurgis Rudkus and his families who do not have adequate skills, money and
educational background only end up falling into the production process as labor. This is the consequence
these immigrants have to face for chasing after the illusion of achieving success and wealth in America
which is very far from their reach.
Works cited
Adams James Truslow. The Epic of America. Safety Harbor, FL: Simon Publication, 2001. Print
Althusser, Louis. 1971. Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays. Trans. Ben Brewster. New York: Monthly Review. Print
Brownstone, David M., and Irene M. Franck. Facts about American Immigration. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2001. Print.
Campbell, Neil, and Alasdair Kean. American Cultural Studies. London: Routledge, 2006. Print.
Blank, Carla. Rediscovering America: the Making of Multicultural America, 1900-2000. New York: Three Rivers, 2003. Print.
Brownstone, David M., and Irene M. Franck. Facts about American Immigration. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2001. Print
Green, Nicole W., and Ann Chih. Lin. Immigration. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2002. Print.
Eagleton, Terry. Marxism and Literary Criticism. Berkeley: University of California, 1976. Print.
Hochschild, Jennifer L., and Nathan B. Scovronick. The American Dream and the Public Schools. New York: Oxford UP, 2003.
Print.
Jarrett, Alfred Abioseh. The Impact of Macro Social Systems on Ethnic Minorities in the United States. Westport, CT: Praeger,
2000. Print
Lieberson, Stanley. A Piece of the Pie: Blacks and White Immigrants since 1880. Berkeley: University of California, 1980. Print.
Perrucci, Robert, and Earl Wysong. The New Class Society. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999. Print.
Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. New York: Signet Classic, 1980. Print.
"The Declaration of Independence." Ushistory.org. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/>
Tichi, Cecelia. Exposés and Excess: Muckraking in America, 1900/2000. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2004. Print.