# Corruption of Institutions (Church, State, Labor) in The Iron Heel

> Theme guide for The Iron Heel by Jack London.

Key institutions like the church, government, and labor unions are shown as being co-opted by the oligarchy, betraying their stated principles to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful.

## Where it surfaces

- [III: Jackson's Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/iii-jackson-s-arm): The courts and legal profession are corrupted by class interests, as seen in Judge Caldwell's bias and the lawyer's whining.
- [The Philomaths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/v-the-philomaths): Ernest details the hypocrisy of capitalists who invoke religion while exploiting workers, bribing officials, and adulterating food.
- [VI: Adumbrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/vi-adumbrations): The university is shown bowing to wealthy interests, and the government attempts to bribe a labor leader, illustrating institutional corruption.
- [VII: The Bishop’s Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/vii-the-bishop-s-vision): The Bishop's vision exposes the Church's abandonment of Christ's teachings, as he condemns its pomp and calls for direct action, while the audience and platform leaders treat his radical Christianity as heresy.
- [X: The Vortex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/x-the-vortex): The Post Office, the press, and even the pulpit are co-opted to serve the interests of the Oligarchy, while the employers' associations betray labor.
- [XI: The Great Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xi-the-great-adventure): The courts and legal system are shown as tools of the Oligarchy, enabling the theft of Cunningham's property and threatening his freedom.
- [The Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xii-the-bishop): The Bishop, a church leader, is institutionalized for following Christ's teachings, showing how societal institutions punish true charity.
- [XIII: The General Strike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xiii-the-general-strike): The courts are in the hands of the Oligarchy, the churches are whipped into line against socialism, and labor unions are defeated, showing institutional corruption.
- [Last Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xv-last-days): Unions betray the working class, the state enforces segregation and suppression, and religious institutions fuel escapist frenzy.
- [XVI: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xvi-the-end): The courts and military are used by the Oligarchy to suppress the Grangers and farmers, and the militia law forces workers to kill their comrades.
- [XVII: The Scarlet Livery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xvii-the-scarlet-livery): Congress is reduced to a farce, with debates and votes merely rubber-stamping oligarchic mandates, and the Speaker colludes with the Iron Heel.
- [In the Shadow of Sonoma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-shadow-of-sonoma): The prison system is used to detain suspects without charge; the state home for the feebleminded is demolished for private luxury.
- [XIX: Transformation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xix-transformation): Dr. Hammerfield and Dr. Ballingford become apologists for the Oligarchy, corrupting religion and intellect to serve the ruling class.
- [XXII: The Chicago Commune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxii-the-chicago-commune): The Iron Heel corrupts the secret services and uses agents-provocateurs to undermine the revolutionary movement from within.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/endnotes): Notes highlight the church's defense of slavery and capitalism, the bias of universities, and the corruption of political machines by capitalists.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/themes/corruption_of_institutions
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/themes