Ona's Ashes Passage Analysis

This passage is significant because it is describing the current living situation of Jurgis and his family at this point in the book. A midwife, Madame Haupt, is the one speaking and she is complaining about the environment that she had to work in. The family is so poor they were only able to pay her $1.25 upfront, although Jurgis offered to slowly pay her the full $25 they owed her throughout the month. She is also complaining that she has not received any food or alcohol since she has arrived, and this is because they family has nothing to offer her. The family is at a very low point and are just trying to survive on what little food and money they have.
Before this passage, Jurgis recently got out of jail because he beat up Ona’s boss