Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of This Furnace, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Immigration and American Identity
Industrialization and Destruction
The American Dream vs. Reality
Women’s Work
Capital vs. Labor
Summary
Analysis
In the fall, Zuska moves into her own room with her two boys. Borka reveals that Zuska’s brother-in-law threw her out for being a tempting presence to his boarders. At the butcher shop, Kracha teases Zuska about her eviction and they continue to flirt. Eventually, Kracha asks to visit her new room and she invites him over. At first Kracha regrets asking and spends an evening drinking at Wold’s saloon, vowing to keep his distance from Zuska lest she bring trouble into his life. At eleven o’clock that same evening, however, he knocks on Zuska’s door. That night they begin an affair, and Kracha begins giving Zuska money to make ends meet.
When he decides to have an affair with Zuska, Kracha does not consider the ramifications this action will have for his public persona. Though he is aware that people, especially women, in the neighborhood view Zuska as a conniving harlot, his inexperience as a businessman blinds him to the impact an affair with her will have on his customer base. Nor does he consider how giving her money will damage his financial standing.
Themes
