In contrast to Gibson’s Neuromancer and our society today, where nobody seems care from where, how and at what cost our products reach us, Life in the iron mills, paints a picture of the harsh reality that defined a 19th century factory worker’s life, and where the technology really originated. The life of a factory worker, described by Davis, “is a Drunken test, a joke-horrible to angels perhaps, to them, commonplace enough” (Davis, 2764). The Iron Mills are “a reality of soul starvation,” for all who work in them. Although each man living in this world longs for just glimpse of beauty, there is none to be found. This is shown in the plot as Deborah even mentions that Hugh is sickened by her deformity, despite her extreme kindness, longs for something beautiful. In Davis’ mind, the only beauty that can be found in this day age is what lies ahead in the future. As Davis states, “no perfume-dawn will be so fair with promise of the day that shall surely come” (Davis 2764). Davis emphasizes that this was a necessary time, one with great sorrow and countless lives wasted, yet one that would change the course of our countries history forever. The industrial revolution almost acted as a springboard, for technology to exponentially bound off of. Without it, who knows where we would be today.
It is through these types of literature that the past is also trying to warn us about the cost of technology. But even in this day age, we still seem to forget that. When you purchase some item, you are rarely thinking about the child labor, or the bad conditions overseas that play into making this item cheap and available for you. As is shown from this excerpt, “Man cannot live with work alone” (2766). When work consumes your life as it did for the mill workers, you no longer live. It also seems like the author poses an additional warning about the future here. Finally, the authors true purpose is once again highlighted when she describes the “mill-woman cut in korl” (2788). There are characteristics about it, that hint at a “Master plan,” one that will set the stage for a world full of “nebulous crimson” and uncertainty, yet at the same time hope. Thus was this description of life in the iron mills really the end? According to Davis, it is only the beginning of a better world.
This is an interesting argument, Josh, but I’m not entirely sure that I’m persuaded that Davis thinks what happens to Deb and Hugh is necessary for the world to become a better place. And if it is, what sort of world do we live in? I’d need more textual evidence (and probably a few more paragraphs) to really be on board with what you’re trying to do here. But good job taking a risk.
I agree with you in the fact that we do jot think about where the products we consume come from. Like we discussed in class, we know that the products we purchase are made with the hard labor of unders under harsh conditions, but yet do not do anything about it. Since we are not the ones that are being negatively affected, we do not take action.