SINCLAIR’S CRITICISM TOWARD AMERICAN CAPITALISM IN 1990’S REFLECTED IN THE JUNGLE

Abstract

This  research  aims  to  identify  manipulation  in  American  classes’  relation reflected  in  a  novel  entitled  The  Jungle  by  Upton  Sinclair  and  to  explain  Sinclair’s criticism toward American capitalism reflected in the novel. The theory of Ideological State Apparatus and Repressive State Apparatus by Althusser is used to answer the objectives. Qualitative content analysis method was used to analyze the data. The data analysis was conducted through six steps: identifying, reading and re-reading, coding and categorizing,   and   sorting   the   data,   making   the    interrelation   between   the description of  the data and the theory, and making an interpretation of  the findings. Researcher reveals various concerns regarding to the ideology, which are manipulations from the ruling class through institutions  seen in the total  control of the economy, politics, and law. Sinclair criticizes American capitalism and introduces the concept of socialism in his novel as the solution of the problems that created by the capitalist people.

.

Keywords:  Ideology, The Jungle, Sinclair, Althusser.