Out Of This Furnace Sparknotes

“Out of This Furnace” is a novel written by Thomas Bell, which entails the story of immigrant labor and a Slovak’s family immigration to America. In the beginning, the book focuses on George Kracha, who migrates to the U.S. in hopes to escape poverty and oppression in Hungaria. However, during his transit and through fault of his own, George finds himself with only fifty cents to continue his migration to Pennsylvania. George Kracha successfully arrives with his relatives and secures a position working for the railroad. Over time, George Kracha’s wife migrates to America, his family begins to grow, and Kracha shifts working from railroad to steel mills at Braddock. Kracha’s hope to obtain a better life in America becomes unseizable when he

The empire of Franz Josef led Kracha to migrate in hopes of a better life in the U.S. The book merely describes the factors which caused Kracha to immigrate from Hungary, but expresses the idea that, “endless poverty and oppression which were the birthrights of a Slovak peasant” (Bell 3). George Kracha went aboard ship to New York and was instructed to buy a ticket to Pennsylvania. The trip from Hungary to New York shows Kracha’s inclination towards alcohol and older women. While aboard ship, Kracha experienced a desire for a dark and married woman, Zuska. For her birthday, Kracha spent most of his money on whisky and wine. Leaving him with fifty-five cents to buy a ticket to Pennsylvania. Failing to do so, Kracha walks the roads and endures a difficult journey. Kracha never knew where he was, did not have food, and suffers physical pain. Though Kracha receives lifts on a wagon, he walks for a whole week until he finds himself at White Haven. In his first years, Kracha works for the railroads and became a farmer. His life was passable, as the text implies Kracha, “made as much as twenty-five dollars” (Bell 21). However, life goes downhill as he decides to move to Braddock and work in the steel mills. His best friend dies and his wife wants to return to a land filled with poverty. Through the new experiences, Kracha decides to open a business and does well for

Mike also represents the Americanized generation, he studied, he learns how to read and write English. Mike was educated and aware of America’s current events. However, was not delicate to the mistreatment of Slovaks. The text describes the way slovaks were seen, “In America they were all this and more, foreigners in a strange land, ignorant of its language and customs, fearful of authority in whatever guise” (Bell 123). Mike believes he should have some respect as he hoped for a better life in America. Politically, Mike was invested in campaigns and sided with socialist. Though he, “registered as a Republican--anything else would have been suicidal” (Bell 189). Mike differed from Kracha, as he voted against the big business who crushed his dreams for a better