Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) was a famous twentieth century poet who often experimented with different genres. The Jungle, published in 1906, exposed the harsh conditions of the meatpacking industry in Chicago and other similar industrial cities. Public pressure during the aftermath of the book's publication led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act, which helps ensure that meat is packaged under sanitary conditions.
Pair “The Two Brothers” with this excerpt from “The Jungle” and ask students to think about the question of how people create social change as it is played out in each text. Further, ask them if they think social movements are more effective if they have monetary support, having read “The Two Brothers” and knowing the following background information about “The Jungle”: As a young, poor socialist, Upton Sinclair hoped to use his literary talents to draw attention to the unsanitary conditions that Americans working in the meatpacking industry endured. Instead, American readers were more horrified by his revelations about the poor quality of the meat being marketed to them; Sinclair famously noted that he “aimed at the public’s heart and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” Public outcry and unwillingness to purchase meat produced in such conditions led to reform.