Genre
Short story
Setting and Context
America in the nineteenth century
Narrator and Point of View
An omniscient, but middle-class narrator,
Tone and Mood
The tone is dramatic; the mood is powerful.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Deborah is the protagonist; Clarke is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the book occurs when Deborah steals Mitchell's wallet.
Climax
The climax of the book is reached when Dr May discovers that Wolfe has been sent to prison for theft.
Foreshadowing
Hugh's suicide is foreshadowed by his poor mental health.
Understatement
The impact of honesty is understated throughout the book.
Allusions
The book alludes to the many struggles of workers in iron mills at the time.
Imagery
The imagery of repression is present in the book, particularly through the grim conditions in the mines.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Wolfe's selfishness and his feeling of isolation.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The injustice experienced by the workers is personified through the strange statue.
