Out of This Furnace

The first portion of Part 2 shows just how much Braddock has grown since the early days of George Kracha. The town has doubled its population, and the immigrants include many other races, thus brining racial tensions to the town. Though the town has grown, rent is still high and there is hardly any property to rent. This section highlights how even newer immigrant workers still face harsh living conditions, despite this being a different generation of workers. Moreover, they must contend with issues like race problems due to the influx of immigrants from other places besides Hungary.

Another issue brought up in the section is the fact that the mills have now been consolidated under the U.S. Steel Corporation. The corporation has made it known that it will not tolerate any of the union’s attempts at having a voice. The mills still view the workers as easily expendable. The mills cut wages and provide fewer hours when they see fit. Though the workers, like Mike, are upset, there is not much they can do about it at this point. Their lives seem bleak, a bleakness highlighted by yet another mill accident that claims the lives of workers. Mike being able to vote for the first time shows how he wants to make a change to the status quo.

Mike and Mary’s relationship is a parallel of the relationships in Part 1. Like Elena or Dorta, Mary eventually makes the informed decision to take in boarders to supplement Mike’s income from the mill. Mary works for a wealthy family and shows Mike the house. Though hope and possibility might be on their side, the couple agrees that they will probably never have a house like the Dexters. This realization highlights their attempt to look reality in the face. They want to dream, but they do not want to dream so big as to become crushed under the weight of it.

As Mary begins taking in boarders to supplement Mike’s income, Dorta gives her advice about running a house with boarders. Dorta advises to let the boarders know she is boss and to not take anything from them. If they do not like the way Mary handles the house, they are free to leave. Mike agrees and cautions that he will stop the boarding if he feels it is too much work for Mary. Though it is a lot of work, the idea proves fruitful for the couple. They find themselves out of debt by the springtime and are also able to save some money.

George visits and informs them that the railroad has finally begun building on the tract of land where he bought lots previously. All the investors who still had land, like Joe Perovsky, made great profit from selling. George is a very different man than from before. He takes issue with the new furniture the couple has recently purchased, saying they could have used the money more wisely. He also reveals that there is another slowdown. He and Mike hope it is nothing major. 

George and Mike’s fears come to pass as the slowdown continues and the mills begin placing workers on part-time status. Though Mike likes the hours at first, he realizes that if it continues, he will once again be in trouble financially. By year’s end, Mike is only working three days out of the week and the workers are being paid in scrip, not cash. Finally, the mills cut wages and start paying cash again. The mill also strongly influences the workers as far as voting practices, and fires workers for not following their choice of candidate. Some men, like Anna’s boyfriend, choose to enlist when they lose their jobs. Elections are being held, and the mill dictates who the workers should vote for, a Republican nominee.

Mary soon has another child, a son named Mikie. Around this time, the wages for unskilled workers are also raised while the slowdown abates. Mike and Mary begin to break even again, and Mary wants to make sure that she does not become pregnant again, though she does. Mike is wary because of Mary’s health, but she tries telling him she is fine. She collapses in July, however, while ironing, and the doctor must be summoned. Though the child is fine, the doctor insists that Mary remain in bed for a few days. He also says she should rest when she needs to. The advice is nearly comical to Mary, as she has an entire house to run, must take care of not only boarders but her own children, and all while pregnant. The couple talk about the possibility of ending their boarding business so that Mary can get better. They have managed to save some money which might float them for a while. The baby, Agnes, is born in September. The couple sell their furniture and move to smaller quarters. 

George Kracha had dreams about bettering himself and making something in life for his family. His grand American Dream is contrasted sharply in this section with his daughter’s life. George visits Mary and Mike, and takes issue with the new furniture they have recently purchased. Though George was at one point accustomed to buying nicer things, he has sense returned to his first-generation views of just being happy to have work. He has been through the phase of dreaming and hoping, and was crushed by his dreams. He does not want the couple to face the same horrible reality, and thinks they should be more careful with their spending.

Mike is more and more disillusioned with the mill’s tactics of cutting wages and hours. Mary seemingly suffers more than he does because she must do all the work of keeping borders. This is made evident when she collapses while pregnant. Though the couple eventually stops taking in boarders and moves to smaller quarters, they must now live off what they have saved thus far, showing how poverty and work are endless cycles of give and take for immigrant workers. They get ahead for a while and then are thrust back down into debt and worry.

While having dinner one night after work, Mike takes delight in his family and children. He and Mary then talk about their financial woes after supper. Mike is still not working full time at the mill, and the family is in debt to many people. Mary suggests that they try and take in boarders again to help supplement Mike’s income, though Mike refuses to take in boarders again.

When elections come up again, the mill again instructs the workers on how to vote. They give them sample ballots and bring them all together on election day to remind them of where their paychecks come from, a not-so-subtle form of intimidation. This time, however, Mike decides to vote his conscience, and chooses the Socialist ticket and Eugene Debs. Mike is sure he will be fired for the slight, but when he receives his pay, he learns that he has not been fired after all.

George is injured in the mill when he fractures his arm. Because of this, he receives an accident compensation from the company. He visits Mary one day and the two see a newspaper article concerning one of Zuska’s sons. George also mentions that though Andrej is still working, both of his sons have been laid off. As it is John Joseph’s (Johnny’s) birthday, Mary bakes a cake and asks George to stay since Mike must work that night. Also, Anna’s child will be christened the next day. When George returns to Mary’s place that night after going out drinking, he is informed that Mike has been killed at the mill. George must then wake his daughter and convey the tragic news of Mike’s death.