Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Davis, Essay Example

It is the tragic story of two Welsh immigrants. A young man Hugh Wolfe who works hours and hours in scorching heat at local foundry and Deborah, his cousin who works in cotton mill. They were living in poverty and also they were illiterate and uneducated. Wolfe is having the quality of great sensibility artistic who longs to get away his daily hard work and to live a meaningful life, but the situation doesn’t allow him.

Actions start when Deborah finds out that Hugh had not taken his lunch and she decides to go many miles to take lunch for Wolfe. When she arrives there Wolfe recognized her. Wolfe didn’t eat his lunch and till the shift is over Deborah stays with her till the shift is over.

A statue was built by Hugh with kohl. One of the workers went and asks what does it represents and Hugh say “she is hungry”. As the worker leaves, Deborah steals the wallet which was having a cheque of big amount. They both go back home and feel anger for their poor situation.

Deborah confesses the stealing of wallet and shamefully gave it to Wolfe to fulfill his needs. Wolfe keeps all the money believing that he deserves it.

And then the story continues to a different scene by reading a newspaper and watching Wolfe along with Deborah put in jail for stealing the wallet. The story reflects the situation, how terrible condition they both were in and were having a very un economical life. Later on the mental disintegration of Wolfe’ was getting increased day by day and Hugh finally ends up his life by killing himself in the prison. In the end of the story a Quaker woman comes in to help Deborah for a proper burial of Hugh when she is released from the jail.