The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

A lot happened in this section.

What happened to Jonas?

What do you think of the situation that put Jurgis in jail and the family in (even deeper) poverty?

What kinds of people did he meet in jail, and will those people and their stories have any significance going forward?

Each of the family members has endured tragedy. How has this altered them?

We are only halfway through the book. What are your predictions going forward?

I prefer to think that Jonas ran away rather than being killed and ending up in the lard vat. As for Jurgis, I see him as a man at the end of his rope, no longer able to think rationally. He attacks Ona’s boss because he is angry beyond reason - at his many defeats, at the grinding poverty, at being unable to protect his wife and family, at Ona for submitting to her boss, at everything and everyone in his miserable life. His actions are imprudent but completely understandable. His time in jail seems to calm him and cause him to reflect, but once out of jail he is met with even more suffering. The one bright spot in his incarceration is his cell mate Jack Duane, of whom I hope we hear more. I cannot imagine how this family can survive more hardship. I knew this wouldn’t be an easy read because of the disgusting details about the meat industry, but it’s so much worse than I predicted because of the unending human suffering.

Yeah, I did wonder if Jurgis could have handled things differently - as Ona suggested, just letting the boss lose interest. But I can't imagine him being able to respect himself if he just let it continue to happen. Poor Ona. She had no way out.