Franz Holl, 6 years old, passes fine days on his father's farm where his mother and stepfather who live in poverty have shoved him off. Patriarchal laws are still oserved on the farm, the farmer and dictator at one side and the farm hands on the other. franz is confronted with this workers who have become blunted by the hard work and doomed to an ihuman life, only able to express their feelings by aggressive outbursts. After eleven years, he feels strong enough to free himself from his "Serfdom", leaves the farmand begins a new life in learning the trade of a blacksmith.