"I Stand Here Ironing"
Tillie Olsen's last line of the story, "I Stand Here Ironing," seems like a prayer ofhope that the narrator has for her daughter. After a call from someone concerned aboutEmily's behavior in school, the narrator, while ironing, focuses on her relationship withher daughter. Emily's mother realizes, as she looks back, many of the choices she madeabout raising her daughter, are not considered to be good ones. She admits, "My wisdom
Just like the iron ironing out wrinkles, one can iron out theirproblems. The mother prays that her daughter will find cause to know there is strength tostand up to being "helpless before the iron. The iron is significant as it symbolizes all circumstances that "flatten orthreaten" dreams and hopes. She is a mother was has raised children to the best of her ability and is not satisfied withthe result. " She has hope that Emily will learn that herlife hasn't been determined by her mother's actions. " The narrator obviously regrets her choices and the circumstances inraising Emily. Even though sherealizes her mistakes, she will do nothing to correct them and continue to have littleinfluence on Emily's life. She has fulfilled her role as nurturerand realizes that it is now time to emotionally let go of her daughter and hope for the best. Emily was sent away at a time when a mother would have beenvery important in shaping and influencing her to become a better adult. Basically, Emilynever got that chance to discover herself as an individual. Emily grows up not realizing her full potential, and is constantly robbed of theopportunity to improve. She sees herself as a mother who feels that she has done the bestshe could, given the circumstances of her situation. In the end, Emily's mother acknowledges she was a bad parent.
Common topics in this essay:
Stand Ironing,
Basically Emily,
Tillie Olsen's,
emily's mother,
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