Based on my point of view I would think of it as Kevin showing his compassion for his father, or trying to show a link for family care.
And no, I don't think it has anything to do with Kevin being a little thief. XD Unless that's what the story portrays.
The answer is All of the above
Sound is not used in writing to create imagery.
Many people would get sick from the pollution that was a product from coal smoke and working, hard, long hours without any form of a break. Plus, since large machinery was relatively new in this time era, they were particularly unsafe and lead to many workplace related accidents and deaths.
Build a story for it. Write it as a narrative essay, unless the instructions are inckmpete. Ask your subject instructor about it when you see them next. But I'd still write it as a Narrative Essay before hand, just in case. Also, Look at it as "For Kennedy, suffering is necessary, even if in its absurd in the end." The point will be to to focus on this 'Kennedy' character and the full sentence.