Upton Sinclair uses his writings to criticize society in many ways. One major aspect of society that he focuses on is immigration as well as the ignorance of the general population. Key quotes determine Sinclair's views on these topics.
"So America was a place of which lovers and young people dreams. If one could only manage to get the price of a passage, he could count his troubles at an end." (Pg 22) this quote signifies how everyone dreams of migrating to America. Those who are still so naive look it at as the land of hopes and dreams. Immigrants look at entrance to America as a privilege or even something that will make them prosperous. Sinclair is stating that immigrants are not easily accepted into society. They are often looked down upon and taken advantage of for their willingness to work and make money anyway that they possibly can.
"They knew nothing about the country, and had no one to tell them, and it was easy for a man in a blue uniform to lead them away to a hotel and keep them there and make them pay enormous charges to get away." In this quote, Upton Sinclair further proves his point about the general population and how they take advantage of these immigrants. They know nothing about America and will do anything they are told, thinking that it will lead them to a wonderful life. They are willing to do anything to get their life started and Americans see this. Sinclair shows how Americans seize this opportunity to make easy money on those who don't know any better.
"They were pitiable in their helplessness; above all things they stood in deadly terror of any sort of person in official uniform, and so whenever they saw a policeman .
they would cross the street and hurry by." This quote proves in a whole how little the outside world knows about our country and the way it works. Life in America is not as simple or lovely as they would make it out to be. People who come to America come expecting to find riches on their arrival but instead are "slapped in the face" with the reality of life in America.