The Jungle Chapter 18

Jurgis is set free without a penny in his pocket and marches home-a 20-mile walk. When he comes upon the house, it looks different-it has been repainted. He slowly realizes that new people live there. In a rage he asks neighbors where the family has gone and finally traces them to Aniele Jukniene's boarding house, where they first lived after coming to Chicago. "Jurgis could see all the truth now-could see himself through the whole long course of events, the victim of ravenous vultures that had torn into his vitals and devoured him; of fiends that had racked and tortured him, mocking him, meantime, jeering in his face." Chapter 18, pg. 212 When he walks in, he hears Ona screaming in pain upstairs. When he rushes to her, Marija, whom Jurgis barely recognizes as she is so thin, intercepts him. Ona is giving birth, she tells him, but far too early. There is no money for a doctor and Ona is dying. Jurgis demands that they pool what little money they have and find someone to help his wife.