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

begins to work in the steel mills. His job becomes agonizing and provides inequitable conditions. The story begins to transition into further generations and depicts the struggling life of immigrants in America.
George Kracha’s journey to America exemplifies his will to abscond from the oppression created by Franz Josef.

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

himself.
Kracha’s first job in America was working for the railroads. His working conditions were inadequate and his pay was low hence his poor living conditions. The railroads required Kracha to move around which forced his children and wife to come along. Kracha expresses how immigrants were mistreated, they worked long hours and were paid low wages. The low wages made it difficult to support his family at home, specifically being unable to feed his family. As time passes, Kracha’s family and friends move to different locations to work in the steel mills. However, the plans to relocate and work in the steel mills became uncertain due to the lack of management assistance. The text implies management had no regard for workers when, “Carnegie and his manage, Captain Jones, did not intend to reopen the mill until the men accepted a wage cut and return to the twelve-hour day,” (Bell 23). While working in the mills, Kracha’s personal life shows a lot of deficiency. For example, his hours were long, his sleeping schedule was tousled which created a “mental fog” (Bell 47) that separates him from his family and from living a standard and happy life. Moreover, the time Kracha has to spare was spent on drinking to rid himself of loneliness and push him back to work. The working conditions in the steel mills were unsafe and caused many deaths. Kracha’s best friend, Dubik dies in an explosion where his body, face, and eyes are burned. Many other laborers died and were injured, proving the unsafe conditions Kracha worked in. After Dubik’s death, Kracha decides to open up a business as a butcher to leave the mills. The business runs until he falls into temptation. Kracha’s wife dies and he loses everything, his business, his family, and his money.
Comparing the males in the text, George Kracha, Mike Dobrejcak, and Johnny all worked in the steel mills to make a living. However, all had different experiences and different approaches. Kracha began working for the railroads, but was not satisfied with working for there and moved to work in the steel mills. Eventually, was not content with the steel mills due to the inhumane working conditions and low pay and started a butcher business. After Kracha loses everything, “ In one sweeping avalanche of disaster he had lost the Halket Avenue property, lost his business, lost his home;” ( Bell 108). George Kracha’s character exemplifies a melancholy, yet an easy to satisfy man. Though he changes jobs, Kracha continues to go back to the same, old things. He returns to the steel mills and that is the end of Kracha. Concerning politics, Kracha was not active and stayed quiet to keep his job.Any problems he had, Kracha would drink. He tries to achieve the “american dream”, but fails and does not continue.
Mike Dobrejcak represents the second generation, as he married Kracha’s daughter, Mary.

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

life.
Johnny (Dobie) represents the third generation and is the eldest son of Mary and Mike Dobrejcak. Johnny differs from the past generations, as he was the most active in the political scene. Johnny joins a union which fights for justice in the steel industry and creates economic justice for steel workers. Though there were many hardships, he did not give up. Dobie’s character exemplifies endurance, he works hard to achieve greatness. To further prove Dobie’s character, the novel states, “Dobbie leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. ‘The men who quit the union will come back...We got a dirty deal from everybody, including the Government… Nobody can do things like that to me and get away with it...The union is our only hope,” (Bell 332).