Here's why:
* Sinclair's Primary Focus: Sinclair's primary aim was to expose the appalling working conditions and unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry, hoping to spark reform and improve the lives of workers. He wanted to draw attention to the exploitation and human misery prevalent within the system.
* Socialist Beliefs: While Sinclair held socialist beliefs, *The Jungle* was not a direct attack on capitalism as a whole. He was more interested in highlighting the systemic flaws and injustices within the existing system.
* Focus on Specific Industry: The novel focuses on the specific industry of meatpacking and its exploitation of workers, not on a broad critique of all aspects of capitalism.
However, it's important to note that the novel did have an unintended effect. The public was more outraged by the unsanitary practices described in the book than by the exploitation of workers. This led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which significantly improved public health and safety.
In conclusion, while *The Jungle* sheds light on the negative aspects of the capitalist system in its depiction of the meatpacking industry, its primary goal was not to criticize capitalism as a whole. The novel's impact was more about exposing specific problems and pushing for reform within the existing system.