Sinclair, the author of my junior theme book, The Jungle. Sinclair wrote the novel in hopes of exposing the corruption of the Chicago Meat-packing district and capitalism. He hoped that through his description of life for a family of Lithuanian immigrants, Americans would recognize the destructiveness of capitalism and pursue a more socialist way of life. Instead, the most enduring legacy of his novel was the creation of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Although the government's inspection of meat factories was progress, Sinclair was disappointed because they focused more on cleanliness, not on improving the brutal working conditions. Sinclair felt misunderstood, his most famous words are " I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident hit it in the stomach."
When I read Emerson's quote I immediately thought of Sinclair. I thought it was interesting how the two books I was reading for American Studies could relate so well. Although both author's books were on the surface very different, they both hoped their works would cause social reform. Emerson is regarded to be one of the greatest contributors to American literature, Sinclair forever changed the good industry. Sinclair really is an example of "To be great is to be misunderstood."
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