Ch.+4

Chapter 4 Summary

Jurgis goes to work for the first time at a slaughter house. The conditions at the slaughter house are horrible, but Jurgis is enthusiastic about his job because he is so happy to get paid. He sweeps up the remains of the cows once they were slaughtered. Marija is also offered a job in which she paints cans and the boss says that she can make up to two dollars. The family decides to look into buying a house of their own because of the recent success. They are also tired of having to pay on a monthly basis. They find a house that the like and they decide to look into it. The salesman speaks Lithuanian, and he showed them the entire house. The attic and the basement were not completed, but they were impressed because the house had running water. The family decides to purchase the house, but Jurgis is not able to attend the meeting. He reluctantly gives the money to Ona, Teta, and Jokubas. When they read the contract, they are worried because they see the word rent in the contract. They ask for a lawyer, but it is a friend of the salesman. They reluctantly sign, but they are worried that they just scammed. When Jurgis gets home he decides to go to another lawyer to see if the contract was legitimate. He finds out that all contracts are like that in the United States, and they will own the house once they have paid the entire amount.

Characters Jurgis Jonas Marija Teta Elzbieta Ona

“It was a sweltering day in July, and the place ran with steaming hot blood – one waded in it on the floor. The stench was almost overpowering, but to Jurgis it was nothing. His whole soul was dancing with joy – he was at work at last! He was at work and earning money! (42)”

“Jurgis was so grateful that he paid the half dollar the lawyer asked without winking an eyelash, and then rushed home to tell the news to the family. He found Ona in a faint and the babies screaming, and the whole house in an uproar – for it had been believed by all that he had gone to murder the agent. It was hours before the excitement could be calmed; and all through that cruel night Jurgis would wake up now and then and hear Ona and her stepmother in the next room, sobbing softly to themselves. (52)”