The Jungle - Ch. 14-20

 Chapter 14

Jurgis and his family know all the hidden secrets in the meat-packing industry.  He finds that spoiled meats are becoming sausage and sold to people and the work conditions are terrible.  The working members of the family begin to fall in a great diminution of sensibility while  Jurgis and Ona begin to grow apart, and Jurgis then develops a habit for drinking heavily.  Sickness and disease is affecting the family.  Antanas suffers from measles and Ona develops a bad cough while bearing a child.

 

Chapter 15

It is the winter arrives and with it comes the grueling rush season which include 15-16 hour work days.  Ona sometimes doesn't return home and uses the snow as an excuse and explains she stayed with a friend.  Turns out, Ona's boss has harassed and pleaded her to stay with him and become his mistress.  Ona tells Jurgis of this news and that her boss, Connor, has raped her after everyone has left the plant.  He had threatened her pay and her family.   He also threatened to prevent her or her family any work in Packingtown and he forced her into accompanying him to Miss Henderson's brothel in the evenings.  Jrugis is angry with this news and attacks Connor at his work and then is sent to jail.

Chapter 16 

Once Jurgis goes to jail, he is given a date for his trial and a bond that is set to $300.  He is forced to strip naked and walk the halls of the jail past inmates who make leer comments and remarks.  He is placed in tiny cell that contains a bug infested mattress.  He hears some bells in the distance and realizes that it is Christmas even and begins to feel guilty and think of his family.

 

Chapter 17

While waiting for his trial, Jurigs becomes friends with his cellmate, Jack.  Jack explains that he was cheated out by a big company of a lucrative invention which led him to become a safe breaker.  Jack gives Juris that address of his mistress and explains that he should turn to her if he is need of anything.  Jurgis's trial occurs and Connor explains that he fired Ona fairly and Jurgis attacked him for revenge.  Jurgis explains the truth of what really happened but the judge is not sympathetic.  He is sentenced to 30 days in prison.  While he is in prison, he finds that his family has been fired and can not find jobs or afford to buy food.  Marija is suffering from blood poisoning from an accident that occurred at work.

Chapter 18         

Towards the end of his 30 days in jail, Jurgis is forced to stay an extra day because he can not afford to pay the cost of the trial.  Once he is released he walks a great distance home.  Once he returns home, he finds a new family living in his house and he sends for grandmother for information as to where his family has went.  He finds that they could not afford rent and was evicted from their house and are staying in a boarding house.  Once he arrives to the boarding house, he finds that Ona is about to have her baby and is in extreme pain.  He sends for help. 

Chapter 19,20

They find a midwife that agrees to help but then sends Jurgis out of the house explaining that he will just be in the way.  Jurgis finds himself resorting to the saloon that he used to visit frequently and the owner gives him food, drink, and a place to rest.  Once he returns back to the boarding house, the midwife explains that the baby passed and that Ona is dying as well. He sits by her bedside while she passes.  Jurgis is upset and angry that he returns back to the bar to get drunk with the money he has.