Tillie Olsen's last line of the story, "I Stand Here Ironing," seems like a prayer of
hope that the narrator has for her daughter. After a call from someone concerned about
Emily's behavior in school, the narrator, while ironing, focuses on her relationship with
her daughter. Emily's mother realizes, as she looks back, many of the choices she made
about raising her daughter, are not considered to be good ones. She admits, "My wisdom
came too late..." The narrator obviously regrets her choices and the circumstances in
raising Emily. The iron is significant as it symbolizes all circumstances that "flatten or
threaten" dreams and hopes. Just like the iron ironing out wrinkles, one can iron out their
problems. The mother prays that her daughter will find cause to know there is strength to
stand up to being "helpless before the iron." She has hope that Emily will learn that her
life hasn't been determined by her mother's actions.
In the end, Emily's mother acknowledges she was a bad parent. Even though she
realizes her mistakes, she will do nothing to correct them and continue to have little
influence on Emily's life. She sees herself as a mother who feels that she has done the best
she could, given the circumstances of her situation. She has fulfilled her role as nurturer
and realizes that it is now time to emotionally let go of her daughter and hope for the best.
She is a mother was has raised children to the best of her ability and is not satisfied with
Emily grows up not realizing her full potential, and is constantly robbed of the
opportunity to improve. Emily was sent away at a time when a mother would have been
very important in shaping and influencing her to become a better adult. Basically, Emily
never got that chance to discover herself as an individual.
...