The Second-Story Man
1913
The Second-Story Man, written by Upton Sinclair and first published in 1913, is a dramatic play that serves as a social commentary on the injustices faced by the working class in a capitalist society. The narrative follows Jim Faraday, a desperate burglar who breaks into the home of Helen Austin, the wife of a lawyer representing a steel company that exploited him. Through their encounter, the play explores themes of exploitation, moral accountability, and the personal toll of corporate greed, ultimately revealing the complicity of the affluent in perpetuating social suffering.
