Who made the KORL figures in Life in the Iron Mills?
The three men examine the sculpture, which was made out of korl by Wolfe. The figure is not beautiful; it is muscular through labor, and the face looks like that of a starving wolf. May thinks it looks like a typical working woman. He asks Wolf what he had intended when he created the figure.
What does the KORL woman symbolize?
The statue of a woman that Hugh carves out of korl, a byproduct of making iron, symbolizes Hugh’s longing for more in life. In addition, Hugh carves the statue in a crouching position with her arms extended in a frantic way, making her look as if she is vehemently warning the viewer about something.
Who is May in Life in the Iron Mills?
Doctor John May, known as Doctor May, is the local physician who visits the mill with Kirby, Mitchell, and the reporter. He is unable to step out of his mindset as an upper-class doctor. He can’t find a deeper meaning in Hugh’s statue, as he is preoccupied by the statue’s accurate musculature.
What is Hugh’s position at the mill?
Hugh’s main job is to tend large vats of molten pig-iron. The tale is told from the perspective of an anonymous, omniscient narrator. The narrator tells us that the house in which he is living was home to the Wolfe family three decades ago.
Where does Deborah Work Life in the Iron Mills?
Deborah, or Deb, is a young woman in the story “Life in the Iron Mills,” who works in the cotton-mill and lives in the same boarding house as Hugh Wolfe, his father, and Janey.
What is KORL?
“korl” is a waste product from iron smelting. “pig iron waste”. The term used in the industry is “dross” which is also used to describe things of little worth.
Who is Kirby in Life in the Iron Mills?
Clarke Kirby, known just as Kirby, is the overseer and the son of one of the mill owners. He only cares about his mill’s profits and is blatantly uninterested in the workers who make his mill function smoothly. To him, the mill workers aren’t even people, they’re just “hands” or “wretches” who do the dirty work.
Who is the Quaker woman in Life in the Iron Mills?
Deborah
The Quaker woman is the gentle and kindly older woman who visits the prison to tend to Hugh’s body after his death. During this time, she meets Deborah and promises to return in three years once Deborah is released from prison.
What does Hugh Wolfe carve out of KORL in the Iron Mills?
Despite his sad and unsatisfying life, Hugh possesses an intense craving for beauty and art, which he satisfies somewhat through carving statues out of korl (a byproduct of making iron), as well as through his affections for Janey, a young Irish girl who frequently leans on Hugh for comfort and friendship.
How are Hugh and Deborah related?
Deborah Wolfe: Deborah is Hugh’s cousin. She works as a picker in a cotton mill.
Who is Hugh Wolfe?
Hugh Wolfe, one of the novella’s protagonists, is a 32-year-old furnace-tender in an iron mill in the American South. Hugh leads a dismal life of constant labor and terrible living conditions, and he has an overwhelming feeling of being stuck.
How are Hugh and Deborah related in Life in the Iron Mills?
Deborah Wolfe: Deborah is Hugh’s cousin. She works as a picker in a cotton mill. Most men find Deborah unattractive because she is slightly hunchbacked. In the story, she is attracted to Hugh, but he does not share her feelings.