The Jungle: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Jurgis washes his cell and waits for visitors. Nobody comes to see him. Jurgis soon receives a new cellmate, a dapper safecracker named Jack Duane. Despite sounding well-educated, Duane is open and friendly with Jurgis. The two men swap stories, and Jurgis's spirits are raised. Jack, charmed by the Lithuanian's innocence, tells Jurgis that he was a college-educated engineer who fell upon hard times after his telegraphing invention was stolen by a large company.

Jurgis meets more of the prisoners, who are, for the most part, so wretched and bitter that Jurgis tries to ignore them. Before Jurgis leaves, Jack gives him his address and the two promise to keep in touch.

The day before New Year's, Jurgis stands trial. His English is not good enough to testify, and the bored, contemptuous judge hardly pays him any attention. Jurgis is sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Jurgis is sent to the "Bridewell" jail, where conditions are even worse than they were in county jail. After ten days, Stanislovas visits him to tell him that Ona is sick, the family is starving and facing eviction, and Marija's hand may require amputation after a cut became infected. Stanislovas was fired by his boss, a crony of Connor's, and has been selling papers downtown; his mother has been reduced to begging for food. Jurgis, devastated, must tell Stanislovas that he cannot help them. As Stanislovas is about to leave, Jurgis hands him his remaining fourteen cents.