It is strange reading about a life in which class mobility does not exist. While there are undeniable advantages to being born into a wealthy family, anyone can be anything if he puts the necessary effort into his aspirations. Yes, obviously, it is much easier being born into a family with money and connections. If you do have these recourses, you grow up with certain advantages, such as the ability to afford SAT prep, private school, college and possibly even connections to help you get into a certain college or a particular job. However, if you do not have these benefits, you are not fixed in your social position. My father, for instance, grew up poor but he worked extremely hard and got a scholarship to college, med school etc. and is successful today due to his hard work.
However, for the working class in Life In The Iron Mills, one is born into his social position. No amount of dedication or hard work could change that. This notion is exemplified when the Davis says, “there is no hope that it will ever end…There are moments when a passing cloud, the sun glinting on the purple thistles, a kindly smile, a child’s face, will rouse him to a passion of pain, when his nature starts up with a mad cry of rage against god, man, whoever it is that has forced this vile, slimy, life upon him” (2770). Obviously, it is unfair that there is no class mobility. There is such a large economic and social gap between the rich and poor that they lived completely separate lives. Wolfe was mesmerized by even the smallest glimpse at the lives of the more fortunate. He “seized eagerly every chance that brought him into contact with this mysterious class that shone down on him perpetually with glamour of another order of being. What made the difference between them? That was the mystery of his life,” (2770). The workers cannot understand what makes them so inferior to the elite class. The life one lead is completely dependent on the family he is born into.
Although there are still people living in unfortunate circumstances today, conditions are significantly better. Other than the fact that class mobility exists today, we also have a minimum wage and welfare so that at the very least, most people who work low-paying jobs at least have enough to eat.
I agree with your point that social class in Hugh and Deborah’s society seems to be much more permanent than in our society today. Although Hugh is overqualified for his job at the mill and is capable of leading a more fulfilling life, he feels that he will never be able to achieve a higher quality of living because he was not born into money. By contrast, many people today are able to work hard and reach their full potential, despite having been born into unfortunate situations.
One must ask the question about how mobile our society currently is. Has it changed since (y)our parents went to school?