After being screamed at, insulted and even threatened by too many people, the speaker has finally had it. At last he loses control of his composure and strikes back at that stream of hostility that has been tormenting him from the moment he set foot on that factory. He was yelled at by Mr. Kimbro, he was mocked by Mr. Brockway and then he was verbally attacked by a union of the factory workers.
The speaker had never seen a union before, and despite meaning no harm or any contact with them, the members started harassing him, calling him a fink and threatening to kick him out. He didn't even know what "fink" meant, but it surely was a terrible insult. Apparently the union instantly labeled him a fink, which means strikebreaker, and they believed he had been he had been sent to avoid the success of any strike they could organize. The source of their hostility originated from the possibility that he could go and start "finking his finking ass off" (221).
Anyhow, the speaker is not aware of this terminology and becomes really upset by their behavior. What's even worse is when, ironically as it may sound, he is also attacked by Brockway when he finds out he had seen the union and threatens to kill him. This is where he reaches a boiling point. How could it be possible that no matter what side he landed on, he would always be seen as the enemy? He was sick at been screamed an insulted at, and he finally found the anger to strike back. He viciously attacked Brockway and finally took a stand towards his own dignity. The speaker is a character with no party or allies, and nothing to hold on to but himself. Maybe that's why he isn't even given a name. This is why, when he is threatened, he can't hold on to anyone or anything, and he finally learned that he had to stand up for himself.
Too bad it all blew up on his face: literally.
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