Out of This Furnace

Out of This Furnace

by

Thomas Bell

Alice Kracha Character Analysis

Alice is George and Elena Kracha’s second-born daughter. She is born in the Bear Creek neighborhood and is a pretty, scatterbrained child who often quarrels with her older sister, Mary. She eventually marries Frank Koval and elopes to Cleveland. Through much of the novel Alice is pregnant, and though she gives birth to twelve children, only three survive infancy, including her son, Chuck. She settles in the north Braddock area, and Mikie and Dobie live with her for some time after Mary’s death.
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Alice Kracha Character Timeline in Out of This Furnace

The timeline below shows where the character Alice Kracha appears in Out of This Furnace. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Kracha: Chapter 5
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon
The American Dream vs. Reality Theme Icon
...and his family move to Bear Creek, where Elena gives birth to their second daughter, Alice. They then move to Harvey’s Lake and then Plymouth, where their third daughter, Anna, is... (full context)
Part 2, Mike Dobrejcak: Chapter 5
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon
Women’s Work Theme Icon
Anna is now working for the Dexters, and Alice elopes in Cleveland with her new husband, Frank Koval. Mary suggests taking in boarders to... (full context)
Part 2, Mike Dobrejcak: Chapter 14
Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon
The American Dream vs. Reality Theme Icon
Capital vs. Labor Theme Icon
...has compensated him with nine months’ wages, and he is considering moving to Michigan with Alice and investing in a farm. Kracha remarks that Mary looks better after giving up the... (full context)
Part 3, Mary: Chapter 3
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
...to get rid of Kracha. They move back to Braddock to a three-room dwelling, near Alice. (full context)
Part 3, Mary: Chapter 4
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
The American Dream vs. Reality Theme Icon
...the Cresson sanitarium accepts Mary and the children. Johnny goes to live with his aunt Alice. Mary has two insurance policies on herself. She makes the $500 policy over to Anna... (full context)
Part 4, Dobie: Chapter 1
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
The American Dream vs. Reality Theme Icon
...in the mill. A car meets up with Dobie and out pop Mikie and Chuck, Alice’s son. Mikie is sixteen and has grown taller after his years in the sanitarium. Mikie... (full context)
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
...years at this point. Pauline had died a year after Mary. Both were buried near Alice’s house, but a family spat over Anna’s control over the funeral and insurance led to... (full context)
Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon
Capital vs. Labor Theme Icon
...is blacklisted, having participated in three big strikes in six years. His misfortune grows when Alice gives birth to, and loses, yet another baby. The child is among nine of ten... (full context)
Part 4, Dobie: Chapter 2
Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon
...so clean and blue before.” Dobie’s family does little better than he does. Frank and Alice are evicted for not paying rent and lose all of their furniture, Chuck moves in... (full context)
Part 4, Dobie: Chapter 14
Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon
...Kracha’s funeral, followed by Anna’s sons, Martin and Agnes with their new baby, Joe, Steve, Alice, Frank, Dorta, Steve Radilla, Andrej and Francka. Dobie is overwhelmed by “an endless stream of... (full context)