Rebecca Harding Davis\u2019 \u201cLife in the Iron Mills\u201d is a story of feminism. Davis wrote this story in a time where women yearned for social acceptance and distinction. Throughout the story, Davis displays the progression of strength in women. In the beginning, the gloomy sky reminds the narrator of a story; he\/she recounts the details: \u201cTwo or three dirty hands were thrust out to catch the gown of the woman, who was groping for the latch of the door,\u201d (Davis 2765). The \u2018dirty\u2019 men grab at the woman that is reaching for the door. The woman gropes, or blindly searches, for the handle showing how women have been suppressed to little importance in society. One should even consider the main plot of the short story. Deborah, despite feeling the consequences of working in tough conditions and malnutrition, packs a dinner for Wolfe and delivers it to him through rain and freezing temperatures. This scene portrays women as inferior to men and suggests that they serve men and cater to their every need.<\/p>\n
As the story progresses, however, the roles of male and female seem to blur. Hugh Wolfe\u2019s character is important when discussing gender roles. Wolfe\u2019s nickname is \u201cMolly Wolfe\u201d because \u201che had already lost the strength and instinct vigor of a man\u2026his face (a meek, woman\u2019s face) haggard,\u201d (2769). Not only has Wolfe adopted the name of a woman, he also possesses features of one. Wolfe\u2019s weak demeanor proposes the ascending status of women in society. Wolfe\u2019s sculpture of the korl woman supports the claim that women have gained respect and power in society. Davis describes the sculpture with \u201cher arms flung out in some wild gesture of warning\u2026muscular, grown coarse with labor, the powerful limbs,\u201d (2772-3). The statue of the woman emits power, or \u2018warning\u2019. The statue represents Deborah and her \u2018hunger\u2019 for food and also, more significantly, life itself. Furthermore, the sculpture also displays masculine qualities, qualities that \u201ctouched [Mitchell] strangely\u201d (2773). It is \u2018strange\u2019 that Mitchell has a reaction to the statue because men are not often significantly affected by women or their presence. As Wolfe lies in prison contemplating suicide, he watches women pass by outside and dreams of sculpting them as he had sculpted Deborah. Wolfe seeks women that would act as muses for his next sculpture. He now relies on women to give him inspiration in life so he can perform his talent. Davis\u2019 short story intricately expresses the desire of women to gain power and their progression of importance in society through life in the iron mills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rebecca Harding Davis\u2019 \u201cLife in the Iron Mills\u201d is a story of feminism. Davis wrote this story in a time where women yearned for social acceptance and distinction. Throughout the story, Davis displays the progression of strength in women. In the beginning, the gloomy sky reminds the narrator of a story; he\/she recounts the details:<\/p>\n