Riis and The Jungle

Riis in his photos that where viewed in class a good example as to why the Jungle might be a realist novel. Though the Jungle is not a completely true story the situation and emotion toll that is experience by the characters is resubliming to the time period they were in. The pictures of the family are living in small quarters, children working to earn money they resemble to the time period. I feel that the Jungle should be read as a realist novel rather than the naturalistic novel. Another example of realism that I found from the book was when Kristofras dies of “tuberculosis pork” in his “smoked sausage he had eaten that morning” (Sinclair 117). The death of Kristofras was due to the bad meat that was being produced from slaughter houses, also the corruption that was taking place with the intention of capitalism.