In addition to Jurgis' life in America being a symbolic journey, the religious implications throughout The Jungle are apparent. Dante travels through hell in order to reach redemption. Throughout The Jungle, Jurgis is searching for something to believe in, to provide a purpose for his life. That is what religion provides people. In the beginning, Jurgis puts faith in himself and his own work ethic. From the days in the Lithuanian forest to his wedding night, Jurgis vows "to work harder." This belief in his ability to be solely successful and responsible carries him for quite a while. In addition to his belief in himself, Jurgis believes in the American dream. His faith in himself and his new country lasts only so long; eventually, reality catches up with him, and he realizes he cannot do everything himself.
At times, Jurgis puts his faith in his family, allowing his relationships to sustain him. When he is unable to work, the only solace he finds is with his wife and child, but Ona betrays him and their love (so he thinks) and soon after, their son dies. After losing the two most important people in his life, he decides again to rely only on himself. This time, though, his faith in himself is not as a worker but as an abuser of the system that has, for so long, abused him. He turns to alcohol but finds no comfort. Then he turns to a life of crime. For a short time, Jurgis believes that cheating the system is the answer. This neither works nor leaves him fulfilled.
Throughout his journey through the jungle, the judicial system, the economic system, and his personal moral system all fail Jurgis. Ironically, no real mention of a religious strength exists. Early on, a priest vouches for the legal age of Stanislovas, but that is the extent of Jurgis' religious life. The primary reason for this exclusion is that American democratic socialism embraces the teachings of Jesus. In essence, Sinclair presents socialism as a new religion. Sinclair completes this extended metaphor by comparing Jurgis to the disciple Paul. Both men have a religious epiphany. Jurgis' sudden conversion and immediate espousal of socialism serves as his baptism, and like all new converts, he seeks to share his good news with others.
