Redbeard's Take - Chapters 1 and 2

I've been zipping through my copy of the Jungle, and haven't posted about it yet. So this one might be a little long. I'm about 2/3 of the way through. My take so far, in general. I love the book. It's completely compelling. It's like watching an accident in slow motion. You can't look away. It's so heartbreaking. I hope I'm not spoiling the book for anyone, but really, if you're going to read it for the book group, you should already know most of this by now. I can't imagine how they're going to pile more sadness and tragedy on the hardworking Jurgis. And I've got another 1/3 yet to read.

From Chapter 1 -

"She wore a muslin dress, conspicuously white."

First, I thought this line was interesting because, from what I know of weddings, a white dress denotes virginity. This book was written just about 100 years ago and there were still the same thoughts about white wedding dresses as there are today. Next, is the dress conspicuous because it was a rarity to have white (pure) wedding dresses back then, or is the girl, Ona, conspicuous because she's wearing it? Does the narrator know something about Ona that we don't, or is this some sort of hint at the future?

"...and if any of these onlookers came sufficiently close, or looked sufficiently hungry, a chair was offered him, and he was invited to the feast."

That's just how it was in the old days, I guess. People were more inviting and accepting. Try that now, walking past a park shelter or a picnic and seeing if anyone offered you food or even an ice water. Not likely.

Viands. An item of food, a very choice or delicious dish.

Badinage. Light, playful banter.

"Some do not dance at all, but simply hold each other's hands and allow the undisciplined joy of motion to express itself with their feet. Among these are Jokubus Szedvilas and his wife, Lucija, who together keep the delicatessen store, and consume nearly as much as they sell; they are too fat to dance, but they stand in the middle of the lfoor, holding each other fast in their arms, rocking slowly from side to side and grinning seraphically, a picture of toothless and perspiring ecstasy."

I love that passage. Very visual and heartwarming.

Shirtwaists. A woman's blouse or bodice styled like a tailored shirt.

"It is very imprudent, it is tragic – but, ah, it is so beautiful! Bit by bit these poor people have given up everything else; but to this they cling with all the power of their souls – they cannot give up the veselija! To do that would mean, not merely to be defeated, but to acknowledge defeat – and the difference between these two things is what keeps the world going. The veselija has come down to them from a far-off time; and the meaning of it was that one might dwell within the cave and gaze upon shadows, provided only that once in his lifetime he could break his chains, and feel his wings, and behold the sun; provided that once in his lifetime he might testify to the fact that life, with all its cares and its terrors, is no such great thing after all, but merely a bubble upon the surface of a river, a thing that one may toss about and play with as a juggler tosses his golden balls, a thing that one may quaff, like a goblet of rare red wine. Thus having known himself for the master of things, a man could go back to his toil and live upon the memory all his days."

This passage could really be the summary for the book. Well, for the first half, anyway.

From Chapter 2 -

"He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten."

Jurgis is so young and strong, so full of optimism. That's how I feel at work most of the time, but there's this looming specter of the worn out, grumpy, continually pessimistic attitude. How long can it be held at bay?

"In that country [America], rich or poor, a man was free, it was said; he did not have to go into the army, he did not have to pay out his money to rascally officials - he might do as he pleased, and count himself as good as any other man."

America really is (or was) the best country in the world. We still count each other as good as any other man, but how many other men count others as good as themselves? Not many.

"It made them quite sick to pay the money the railroad people asked them for food."

That's true. Railroad food is expensive, and not that good. I guess that comes with being a captive audience.

"It was a standing jest of the boarders that Aniele cleaned house by letting the chickens loose in the rooms. Undoubtedly this did keep down the vermin, but it seemed probable, in view of all the circumstances, that the old lady regarded it rather as feeding the chickens than as cleaning the rooms."

*shudder*

"This, too, seemed to the newcomers an economical arrangement; for they did not read the newspapers, and their heads were not full of troublesome thoughts about 'germs.'"

There's something to be said for the news. At least we're better informed about public health. Is it better to know what's killing you or just be blissfully unaware?