Short Fiction Essay

Zack Drayer

Mrs. Rhodes

October 2nd 2014

Short Fiction Essay

After reading different short fiction stories it was clear they were all relatively similar when linking the stories to working class. There was always a connection that could be made between stories. Whether it was the theme, setting, or characteristics of the story each could be related to another. Between Studs Terkel’s Working, Kristin Kovacic’s Proud to Work for the University, and Tom Kromer’s Three Hots and a Flop, connections could be made. The overall theme of hopelessness/disappointment is noted in each as well as self-actualization, relating all three short stories back to the topic of working class.

Studs Terkel wrote Working in first person in the sense of an interview. Mike was getting interviewed as he was talking about his job as a steelworker. He stresses the struggle and anguish of being a steelworker through many comments. “Im a dying breed. Strictly muscle work…pick it up, put it down.” (Terkel 656) He shows his frustration throughout the interview, sometimes laughing sarcastically, other times showing anger. Mike feels as if he does not get any recognition for his work, and expresses his aspiration to see a final product, not just another piece of steel on its way out of the factory. This is the sense of hopelessness that comes along throughout the story. Mike has a sense of hopelessness because he knows he must continue to work as a laborer in order to provide for his family. However he hates not being able to see the final product of his hard work. It is disappointing to him to put all that effort in and see no reward. “It’s hard to take pride in a bridge you’re never gonna cross, in a door you’re never going to open. You’re mass producing things and you never see the end result of it.” (Terkel 656) This traps Mike in a situation that he knows he cant get out of, having to work the same job for a long time in order to provide for his family. Self-actualization also sets in...