It is common in our society to think of technology as a device that is beneficial to humans. Whether it be a computer or a vehicle, humans appreciate these appliances because they make tasks easier or quicker to accomplish. Although this is a valid perspective, people often fail to realize the deleterious affects that technology can have on humanity. In Rebecca Harding Davis’ “Life in the Iron Mills,” she sheds light on this sobering truth by allowing us to see the life of a factory worker through her eyes.
The monotonous and cumbersome lives of Deb and Hugh are perfect examples of how technology can have a negative effect on humans. The demanding factory jobs wore them down until they had, “besotted faces bent to the ground, sharpened here and there by pain or cunning; skin and muscle and flesh begrimed with smoke and ashes…” (Harding Davis 2764). The grim and ugly images not only show the hardships that Deb and Hugh endured, but also the terrible conditions that they lived and worked under. In addition to being physically worn down, they were also mentally and morally broken. Workers in the factory had their hopes and dreams shattered, and the two protagonists were desperate enough to steal in order to escape factory life.
Working in the factory dehumanized Deb and Hugh, similar to the dehumanization that took place during slavery or racial cleansings. In response to observing the wretched conditions of the factory, one of the wealthy overseers commented, “I wash my hands of all social problems, — slavery, caste, white, or black” (Harding Davis 2774). The comparison of factory work to slavery shows just how terrible and degrading Deb and Hugh’s lives are. They were both physically and mentally devalued, constantly working like robots in the horrid conditions of the factory.
Although technology does have its beneficial purposes, well off citizens often choose to ignore its harsh consequences because it does not concern them. A story like Harding Davis’ is important to read because it causes readers to think more deeply into the ramifications of technology.
I completely agree with you, and I think you picked up on why we are reading this short story after Neuromancer. Technology has two faces, which can be pretty and ugly. Although technology has gone through much evolution, there are still people who experience the harsh work of being a factory hand doing the same task one million times a day. A human robot, nothing more, nothing less. Great analysis.
It is great that you point out the element of technology in this novella. There are two sides to one coin, just like Wintermute and Neuromancer in Gibson’s novel Neuromancer, technology has played a double role in this short story. I agree with you that technology has dehumanized both Deborah and Hugh, and you can also argue that the korl status is a combination of two genders. However, technology is also essential in such an industrialized world. Therefore, whether technology is good or bad, we do not know, but it certainly has a bright side and a dark side.