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The Theme Of Life In The Iron Mills By Rebecca Harding Davis

1970 Words8 Pages

All men are created equal. It is written in the Declaration of Independence, spoken with conviction, but it fails to mention the asterisk associated with it. All men are created equal **if you were born as a male, if your skin color was white, if you were born with a silver spoon. Men are not equal when one is born perched on a pedestal, while another one stares ahead at an endless ladder to reach that same height. The short story, “Life in the Iron Mills” by Rebecca Harding Davis focuses on this divide between men. It focuses on the societal constraints of wealth and poverty that mirror issues still affecting the United States. Davis, specifically, explores this theme of disparity between the classes by featuring characters who view life through the lens of their own …show more content…

People’s success stories are often what is published, not the defeats, the heartbreaks, the numerous losses. The short story, “Life in the Iron Mills” by Rebecca Harding Davis, is one that does not end with happiness, and instead resembles the bleak realities of life. It is one of the stories that does not leave the reader a with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and instead it hits close to home, mirroring the reality of many lives. It focuses on the still very important issue of disparity between the classes and the divide between Americans. Davis explores the theme of division between the social classes by using characters who view life based on their own economic statuses that works to reinforce the sill-existing gap of today. The social ladder is one that is filled with many holes. It is not a fair climb. Some will start out already at the top, while others will begin at the very bottom. No one can be faulted for where they start on this ladder. However, with interlocked hands, individuals can help others begin to ascend, and only then can America start to bridge the gap and fill in the missing

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