Zuska Mihula Character Analysis in Out of This Furnace

Zuska is a peasant from a village in Eastern Slovakia called Zemplinska. She is George Kracha’s lover and second wife who strongly influences the course of his life. She plays a significant role in his initial pennilessness upon arriving to America, the failure of his butcher shop, as well his eventual destitution that forces him to return to work in the steel mill. Kracha first notices Zuska as he is boarding the ship to America. Once aboard, he meets Zuska and John Mihula, her then-husband, and immediately begins lusting after her despite being married to Elena. Zuska is dark-skinned, flirtatious, and physically voluptuous and plump—all traits that Kracha finds irresistible. In an attempt to curry her favor, he spends all of his travel money to buy her wine and whiskey, to no avail. Following their arrival and separation in America, Kracha does not see Zuska again until years later, when she saunters into his butcher shop in Braddock, now a widow. This rekindles Kracha’s flame for her, and his dispassionate marriage to Elena leads him to begin an illicit affair with Zuska. When word of the affair spreads through the community, it costs him several customers. Undeterred, Kracha continues the affair and marries Zuska after Elena dies. Kracha’s weakness for Zuska proves to be his undoing. After Kracha beats her in a drunken rage, Zuska flees Braddock, and Kracha later discovers that she has stolen all of his savings. He never sees Zuska again.

Zuska Mihula Character Timeline in Out of This Furnace

The timeline below shows where the character Zuska Mihula appears in Out of This Furnace. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Immigration and American Identity Theme Icon

...Aboard the ship bound for the U.S., he falls for a dark-skinned, plump woman named Zuska Mihula. He spends most of his money on a birthday party to woo her, despite... (full context)

The American Dream vs. Reality Theme Icon

When Kracha arrives in New York, he bids farewell to Zuska and John at the immigration port, but he does not tell them that, because he... (full context)

...railroad tracks, Kracha tells Dubik the truth about how he blew his travel money on Zuska, a truth Dubik vows to keep secret. The two men become close friends, as Kracha... (full context)

...shop when a woman enters and requests some soup meat. Kracha is startled to see Zuska Mihula standing before him. She explains that her husband died last year and she has... (full context)

Industrialization and Destruction Theme Icon

Zuska’s appearance makes Kracha reexamine his opinions about adultery. Technically, he has always been faithful to... (full context)

Now, however, with Zuska a penniless widow and himself a successful businessman, Kracha waits for the right opportunity to... (full context)

In the fall, Zuska moves into her own room with her two boys. Borka reveals that Zuska’s brother-in-law threw... (full context)

After a month of Kracha and Zuska clumsily sneaking around her children to conduct their affair, Zuska moves into a larger apartment.... (full context)

Kracha spends the next week away from home but continues his affair with Zuska. When he does return home he sleeps on the parlor couch until Elena advises him... (full context)

...lavish the First Ward had witnessed in years,” they bury her in the Irish cemetery. Zuska does not attend the funeral, much to Francka’s approval. She suspects that Kracha will resume... (full context)

...was, in effect, “a widower long before Elena died.” After a month, he resumes seeing Zuska. His business is no longer thriving, Elena’s funeral has cost him what little savings he... (full context)

Following the news of the Maine’s destruction, Kracha visits Zuska at her house. She tells him she is pregnant. Overwhelmed with his troubles, Kracha tells... (full context)

...to unload his woes onto Dorta when she asks him if it was true that Zuska had been stealing his money. Kracha had admitted as much during several drunken nights at... (full context)

...of Anna’s second baby, and displays to Mike a newspaper that ran a picture of Zuska’s son, Joseph, who has become an ordained priest. “It’s my money that made him a... (full context)

...years, including his years on the railroad, working in the mills and the butcher shop, Zuska, and Dobie’s parents. He also enjoys observing the neighboring Cassidy girls, who fight constantly. On... (full context)