The story takes place in a mining village ,where life is very hard ,where man never sees the sun (alternate title is "men without sun" )where heightened passions (because of the danger which never leaves the miners)lead to violence (Hagnauer) ,selfishness and cowardice ( Tony who works in the office) and to a desperate resignation (Demuysère). Women are evil ,except when they are mothers :the Melée boy ,under an over possessive mother's thumb ,will perhaps be the only one to find happiness in the marriage ;but the price to pay is high:he wanted to work in an office ,but his mum did want him to become a miner ("you shall be a miner ,like your father and grandfather were,it's like a dynasty!").