The Jungle – Upton Sinclair (1906)

Rating: Good Enough 

Reminded Me Of: The Grapes of Wrath, The Pubic Enemy, Silent films (in general)

I recently became interested in reading Sinclair after becoming mildly obsessed with There Will Be Blood, the Paul Thomas Anderson film based on Sinclair’s novel Oil! I didn’t really know what I was getting into, and had no real knowledge of The Jungle other than a basic plot outline.

The Jungle tells the story of Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus, and his struggle to find success in America. Jurgis relocates his fiance and her family to Chicago after learning about the bounty of the New World, and promptly acquires a job at the stockyards. Jurgis is optimistic about his new opportunity, but continued failure, along with the death of his wife and child, push him to flee from his family and betray his prior convictions of honour. Jurgis experiments with varying roles such as hobo, beggar, thief and gangster, but it is his metamorphosis into a socialist that fulfills his ambitions. The book ends with a parade of socialist ideology, both dated and still relevant.

I like to think of this book as a gallery of the unrepresented American at the turn of the century. I could gather that it was an important book, but it felt a bit kitsch at times. Perhaps it was the excessive use of exclamations, or the dramatic and sentimental language, but I kept imagining this novel as a serial in a pulp magazine. Anyways, this is a small complaint because I felt that the novel worked for the most part. The transformation of Jurgis was quite unexpected, and it articulated the ruthlessness of the American Dream quite poignantly. The system was against Jurgis, and it always will be. It’s his journey to that realization that is so intriguing to read.

The Rights of Man – Thomas Paine (1791)

I sometimes have this problem of reading incredibly dull works of classic literature because I associate them with some sort of cultural cache. I’ll often find myself seeking out classics simply because they are classics, and because I am a very stubborn reader, I won’t give them up no matter how dull they are.

This was certainly the case with Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man”, Paine’s manifesto on the state of English monarchy during the late 18th century. Paine is particularly intrigued by the American and French Revolutions, and presents a brilliantly structured essay on why aristocracy is failing his country. The style is delightfully accessible, more than 200 years after publication, and I found myself reflecting upon a few aspects of monarchy that had never occurred to me near the book’s end. However, there are some very tedious sections on taxation and economic reform which could be a bit burdensome. Paine’s point is explained thoroughly, but I found myself losing focus on the regular.

This book almost suffers from being too influential. I hate when people refer to ideas as “common sense”, so let be very careful to say that the ideas in this book were so effective, that they have entered modern political doctrine as common sense. This was the most intriguing aspect of Paine’s work. I can imagine that this book was quite controversial when it was published, but in the contemporary perspective it would take a fool to argue the merit’s of Paine’s decree. Even though the book often bored me to tears, I’m astounded by its importance.

But here’s another issue, it’s importance. Is a book really warranted classic due to its importance? The argument is well structured, and I understand its value (especially as an influencer of liberal thought), but was it necessary to read? This is something I’ve really struggled with. It’s easier to scan a Wikipedia page on something like this, but does it really give me what I need? How important is it to read stuff like this, something that’s out of context in the modern world, but still important to see what shaped modern politics? These aren’t easy questions, and don’t necessarily have an answer. Hopefully I can return to this later, and try to come to terms with the classics.

For Whom The Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway (1940)

This was the first Hemingway novel, and I went into it without any knowledge of the story or context. The book is set around a minor skirmish during the Spanish Civil War, and the efforts of American resistance fighter Robert Jordan (the reader is reminded of Jordan’s name about 3 times per page). Jordan is joined by a host of Spanish refugees, including the drunken cynic Pablo, his “woman” Pilar, the elderly Anselmo, and the war-ravaged Maria (Jordan’s love interest).

For the most part, the novel still holds up, and it finds a way to be both epic and minimal at the same time. The entirety of the novel hones in on a small guerilla unit and their struggle to survive a war that’s much bigger than them. I would argue that the tragedy of the story arises from the insignificance of their operation, and their willingness to throw whatever hope they have left into what will amount to a minor victory at most. This realization is really the elephant in the room throughout the novel Hemingway leads his reader to understand the hopelessness of the scenario, but does not allow his characters to revel in the despair (Pablo excepted). This struggle between duty and rational action lend the emotional weight to the story, and leaves the reader counting down the minutes to inevitable disaster.

I was also intrigued by Hemingway’s portrayal of the shellshocked infantryman. Robert Jordan suffers from a subtle plight of PTSD, which is slyly hints at through his moments of soliloquy with the reader. Jordan will slip into a 5 page tangent on his love for Maria, or his burgeoning doubts about combat, but remains docile to all around him. Hemingway’s dialogue may seem terse, or even robotic, but it is in this lack of humanity where he posits his greatest explorations of the human.

I was fully expecting to see this novel as an exploration of manhood, or masculinity above all else. While this is present, I was most interested in the character’s relationship with Pilar, who presented herself as an obvious matriarchal figure. Pilar is a surrogate mother for the guerilla unit, and Hemingway is constantly reminding the reader of their dependance, and childlike attitudes. The men throw tantrums, keep their toys separate and feud like little boys, all while Pilar tries to maintain order. This reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut’s decry of war as the “children’s crusade” and really allowed me to re-examine how combat is viewed in literature and reality.

Welcome to my Professional ePortfolio!

Joey Stapleton – 2013

I’m a writer. I’m a director. I’m a designer. I’m a student. I’m a teacher. I’m a creator.

I’m Joey, and I’m all of the above. A typical day has me switching between multiple roles, and accessing from a wide breadth of skills to achieve success. I write, read, create films and explore ideas to understand my own mind, and partake in mentoring opportunities for insight into the minds of others. Learning and teaching are my primary passions, and I would like to use my ePortfolio to explore these intriguing facets of the human experience.

I’m an eternal student. I am constantly nibbling on new ideas and novel ways of thinking, looking for ways to quench my insatiable desire for knowledge.  No topic is off-limits, and no idea is unsuitable for exploration. I borrow from scholars and peers alike, amassing as much knowledge as I can about whatever is pertinent to my current position. Knowledge is all around me, and I’m more than happy to dive in.

How I use this knowledge is my greatest challenge, but it is also my most satisfying endeavour. I use my accumulation of knowledge to create and teach. I offer what I know to others, and in return benefit from the rewarding sensation of helping people attain success.

I’d like to use this ePortfolio to demonstrate my unique skills, and show you why they matter to me. Furthermore, I’ve separated my breadth of skills into 4 digestible categories: communication, leadership, mentoring and personal branding. These skills best represent who I am and what I have to offer to others. You will also find personal and contact information on my “About” page. I have left numerous opportunities for you to contact me directly, and provide whatever feedback you deem necessary through comment forms. This is a professional portfolio, but also an experiment. I would appreciate whatever feedback I can accrue, so please do not hesitate to let me know what works and what doesn’t.

And now we begin. Enjoy.

Joey Stapleton

-2014