Mike Scully Character Analysis in The Jungle

Mike Scully is a powerful, conscienceless Democratic Party boss who has a hand in many of Chicago's criminal activities, including the housing scam that defrauds the Rudkus family. During Jurgis's time as a criminal, he helps Scully rig an election and enjoys the benefits of Scully's political "pull." However, Jurgis falls out of favor when he attacks Phil Connor a second time, as Connor is a close friend of Scully's.

Mike Scully Character Timeline in The Jungle

The timeline below shows where the character Mike Scully appears in The Jungle. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The Immigrant Experience and Disillusionment Theme Icon

...different parties vie for power and buy votes from poor people. He learns about Mike Scully, an Irish Democrat who owns the dump and brickyard in Packingtown and who leads the... (full context)

The Dehumanizing Evils of Capitalism Theme Icon

...A double-dealing union spy named "Bush" Harper introduces Jurgis to a Democratic boss named Mike Scully. Through Harper and Scully, Jurgis gets involved in a plot to benefit in the long... (full context)

Scully arranges a hog-trimming job for Jurgis. Now, Jurgis earns a salary and also collects illegal... (full context)

...unions expires. When the negotiations disappoint the unions, the workers go on strike. Jurgis asks Scully to find him a job during the strike, and Scully encourages Jurgis to work as... (full context)

...to help him avoid punishment, Harper tells him that Connor is a top man of Scully's. For fear of crossing Scully, Harper can only help Jurgis enough to lower his five... (full context)

Family, Masculinity, and Individualism Theme Icon

...work amidst the economic crisis proves nearly impossible, and he has now been abandoned by Scully because of his attack on Connor. Moreover, his involvement with graft makes him a target,... (full context)

...Packingtown to distribute the papers, undoing the political work he had done there for Mike Scully the previous year. Soon, support swells in Packingtown, and the socialist candidate seems poised to... (full context)