As the setting, the stockyards capture a time and place - the meat packing industry at the turn of the century. The stockyards play a pivotal role, serving as both setting and character. Most of the action takes place in Chicago at the turn of the century. Marija is one of many immigrants who now call Chicago home, and with whom the book is concerned. Marija's barking at the carriage driver not only reveals her temperament and provides a glimpse of her strength of character it also allows Sinclair to provide some history for his characters as well as providing the setting for the entire text.

Upton Sinclair opens his novel in media res - in the middle of the action - capturing the variety of emotions that surround every wedding day. Jurgis, the protagonist, attempts to accept responsibility for this situation by declaring, 'I will work harder.' In fact, they aren't receiving enough money even to pay for the reception, though, following the Old World tradition, no guest will be turned away. Although many people are getting their fill of food and drink, a majority of the guests aren't fulfilling their end of the unwritten agreement to give a gift of money, and the bride and groom don't receive enough funds to start their married life together. The flashback continues until Chapter 7 of the book, where the story catches up to the wedding of Jurgis and Ona. These hardships are laid out in Chapter 2, as the book continues in a flashback to before the time they met in Lithuania. Jurgis and Ona have had to wait a long time after immigrating to the United States and settling in Chicago for their wedding to occur due to the economic hardships they've suffered.

The Jungle begins on the wedding day of two Lithuanian immigrants, Jurgis and Ona, highlighting many of the traditional Lithuanian customs that family members like Marija and Teta Elzbieta attempt to keep alive now that they live in Chicago.

The jungle book sinclair