Life in the Iron Mills is novella packed with deeper meaning. Here are a few of the many important symbols and themes that occur throughout the story:
The korl woman is a hugely important symbol in Life in the Iron Mills, symbolizing many things. Hugh explained that the woman was hungrily reaching out for something "to make her live" (54). The woman's apparent desire, as well as her appearance as a wild, muscly worker, parallel Hugh's own desires and his position both within the city's social class structure and within his own social class. He is a poor worker, but also an outsider within the working class.
Smoke as a symbol is used in two contrasting ways. The narrator claims that "the idiosyncracy of [the] town is smoke" (39). It is a substance that the lower class cannot escape, and are constantly, unwillingly breathing in. This is similar to their social position in that, despite all their work, very little can be done to gain social capital. On the other hand, members of the upper class, who live in more pleasant areas away from the smoke, willingly breathe in the smoke from their cigars. This may be seen as a symbol of the upper class's feeble attempt to understand what the iron mill workers are going through.
The money that Deborah steals and Hugh gets caught with serves as an interesting symbol. Deborah sees this money as the sure ticket out of their misery, but the money actually ends up leading to Hugh's death. It serves as a symbol of the members of the working class's often futile attempts to advance socially in a system that doesn't value meritocracy as much as it claims.
The fire in the iron mills create a scene that looks "like a street in Hell" (45). Hugh and his fellow workers are living and working in hellish conditions that inspire no hope, only misery. These conditions could also symbolize some members of the upper class's expectations for the workers' eternal destiny.
Themes
Hope exists in different levels throughout the novella. There is a general sense of hopelessness for Hugh throughout the story, which peaks upon his death. Davis indicates that, if the existing social class model remains, there is no earthly hope for people like Hugh. The ending, however, highlights Davis's belief in an afterlife and emphasizes the idea that Deborah has hope in heaven. Davis also suggests that hope on earth can be found in a social class reformation that involves the serious adoption of Christian morals.
Gender is examined by Davis throughout the novella. Davis was a firm advocate of women's rights, and used aspects, such as the korl statue and Hugh's femininity, as a means of symbolizing womankind's struggle. The Quaker woman plays an important role as the story's heroine, alluding to Davis's hope in a future of gender equality.
Christianity plays an extremely important role in Life in the Iron Mills. Davis was a strong opponent of "passive Christianity" and uses scriptural quotes throughout the novella to emphasize a socially active Christianity. She uses her faith and religion as the only sign of hope throughout the story.
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