* To reach a wider audience: Sinclair knew that a dry, factual account of the horrors of the meatpacking industry wouldn't be as impactful or widely read. By crafting a story with compelling characters and a narrative arc, he could engage readers on an emotional level and make the realities of the industry more vivid and memorable.
* To avoid censorship: At the time, muckraking journalism was often subject to censorship by powerful corporations and political figures. By using fiction, Sinclair could bypass these restrictions and expose the truth through the guise of storytelling.
* To create a sense of immediacy and realism: While the book draws on real-life experiences and research, the fictional format allowed Sinclair to create a sense of urgency and immediacy that a purely factual account might lack. Readers could experience the hardships and dangers of the meatpacking industry through the eyes of the characters.
* To emphasize the human cost: Sinclair wanted to show the devastating effects of the meatpacking industry on the lives of workers, not just on the quality of the food. The fictional characters allowed him to portray the human cost of the industry in a more visceral and emotional way.
While The Jungle is a fictional story, it's based on extensive research and interviews with workers in Chicago's meatpacking district. Sinclair's aim was to use the power of fiction to create a lasting impact on readers and spark a movement for reform.