ver having to do anything and never having to be anywhere. When winter comes, he realizes that he has to return to Chicago in order to survive. Jurgis is out begging on the streets (with a broken arm), when he comes across a young, drunken boy. The boy invites him to his beautiful mansion. The boy is so drunk that he hands Jurgis a hundred dollar bill and then forgets. When Jurgis is thrown into the streets by the butlers, he realizes that he cant very well pay for anything with a hundred dollar bill, especially the way that he looked. Jurgis goes into a saloon, one that is empty and asks for smaller bills. The bartender agrees to help Jurgis if he will buy a beer. The bartender then gives Jurgis change for a one-dollar bill. He is so mad that he gets into a fight with the bartender and is sent to jail again. In jail, he is re-united with an old friend, Jack Duane, an experienced criminal. After being freed from jail, Jurgis and Duane make a living by robbing people. For the first time in his life, Jurgis has a substantial amount of money. While with Duane, Jurgis learns about the connections between criminals, police, politics, and business. He becomes a member of this complex system and therefore moves into politics. Things in the political world are going great! Jurgis even manages to save 300 dollars. Without knowing it, Jurgis becomes a part of the corrupt system that had once ruined his earlier life. Unfortunately, he runs into Connor again, and nearly kills him a second time. Connors political connections cause Jurgis to lose all his profits that he gained while in politics. Jurgis is convinced that his political life is over, due to Connors high position of authority. Therefore Jurgis has no choice but to return to his old life: wandering the streets.One very cold night, Jurgis walks into a Socialist meeting to keep warm. He is so amazed by the concepts that are being introduced by the speaker. He feels that his w...
