Analyzing Tillie Olsen's 'I Stand Here Ironing'
Wendy Ellison
Scott Vaughn
ENGL 3150
I Stand Here Ironing
Motherhood is filled with great joy, but there are many challenges along the way that can be rewarding and damaging to both mother and child. Tillie Olsen gives us a look into the hardships that poverty and absence caused a young family in I Stand Here Ironing. All parents want better for their children, but the hardships caused by poverty can hinder the ability to create strong relationships and make positive choices for the children.
Parents are responsible for the love, support and guidance of their children. Those living in poverty have lower education standards, may lack motivation to improve their circumstances, and are more likely to have poor health and emotional troubles. …show more content…
Everyone had financial hardships during “the pre-relief, pre-WPA world of depression” (Olsen 299). Being abandoned by a husband that "could no longer endure (he wrote in his good-bye note) sharing want with [us]" (Olsen 299) would be devastating to a young mother of this time period. The narrator tried to manage, but the financial burden became overpowering.
The financial struggles alone can be distressing, but the emotional impact can lead to even more damage. As a new mother, instinct is sometimes ignored for what society, family, or friends may believe is better or correct. Olsen leads us to believe that society has a big influence on the choices that were made for a child’s wellbeing. She refers to “they” several times throughout the story. Their opinion had more influence on her decisions than her instincts. The burdens of poverty and times of absence that came early in life diminished the narrator’s emotional attachment to her first born. Emily was isolated from her mother for long periods of time and mistreated by those who cared for her. As the narrator stood ironing, she was overwhelmed with guilt and regret. She realizes her past choices have consequences that have altered her "beautiful baby" (Olsen 299), Emily 's happiness.
Emily’s harsh upbringing influenced her attitude toward her family, education and future. She was a “slow learner, who kept trying to catch up and was absent entirely too often” (Olsen 300). She lacked motivation and was emotionally withdrawn from everyone. She never had close relationships with family or friends. Emily was uninterested in her education or for anything dealing with her future. She felt that “in a couple of years when we’ll all be atom-dead they won’t matter a bit” (Olsen 304).
The absence of the mother and lack of affection influenced Emily 's withdrawal from life and took her need to connect with her mother. She was always being left with someone, the neighbor, family relatives, day care, and the convalescent home. These absences were out of necessity more than choice. Emily’s ability to interact and communicate with others was damaged by the neglect and isolation. The narrator reflects on her choices and admits “I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (Olsen 304).
The mother chose financial over emotional support with Emily. When financial means and stability are added to a situation, the quality of life can get better. Once remarried, the narrator’s financial stability improved. With the reduced financial stress, she was able to look at her children with a “face of joy, and not of care or tightness or worry” (Olsen 300). The mother tried to reach out to her daughter, but the damage was already done. Emily would “push away” (Olsen 301) any attempts by the mother. The alienation Emily encountered each time she was sent away altered her ability to connect emotionally with her mother and with society. The mother’s “wisdom came too late” (Olsen 304) to benefit Emily. She was grown and pushed away any affection her mother tried to give.
Poverty can cause both emotional and financial stress to the entire family. This story allows us to understand the adversities of a single mother and the effects those hard times had on their mother daughter relationship. Although this story is set during the Great Depression era, we are able to relate to the issues in today’s society. Poverty can cause great turmoil in anyone’s life no matter the time period. Most mothers want the best for their children, and the narrator has made the realization too late. Despite the turmoil that followed Emily, her mother loved her daughter, but was emotionally unavailable to her. Her regrets and burdens have damaged the mother-daughter bond, and now the mother can only hope Emily will be able to create a life that “is more than the dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron” (Olsen 304).
Works Cited
Olsen, Tillie. "I Stand Here Ironing." Clifford, John Schilb and John. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2012. 298-304. Print.
I. Motherhood is filled with great joy, but there are many challenges along the way that can be rewarding and damaging to both mother and child.
A. Tillie Olsen gives us a look into the hardships that poverty and absence caused a young family in I Stand Here Ironing.
B. All parents want better for their children, but the hardships caused by poverty can hinder the ability to create strong relationships and make positive choices for the children.
II. Parents are responsible for the love, support and guidance of their children.
A.
Those living in poverty have lower education standards, may lack motivation to improve their circumstances, and are more likely to have poor health and emotional troubles.
B. Everyone had financial hardships during “the pre-relief, pre-WPA world of depression” (Olsen 299).
1. Being abandoned by a husband that "could no longer endure (he wrote in his good-bye note) sharing want with [us]" (Olsen 299) would be devastating to a young mother of this time period.
2. The narrator tried to manage, but the financial burden became overpowering.
III. The financial struggles alone can be distressing, but the emotional impact can lead to even more damage.
A. As a new mother, instinct is sometimes ignored for what society, family, or friends may believe is better or correct.
B. Olsen leads us to believe that society has a big influence on the choices that were made for a child’s wellbeing.
1. She refers to “they” several times throughout the story.
2. Their opinion had more influence on her decisions than her instincts.
C. The burdens of poverty and times of absence that came early in life diminished the narrator’s emotional attachment to her first born.
1. Emily was isolated from her mother for long periods of time and mistreated by those who cared for
her.
2. As the narrator stood ironing, she was overwhelmed with guilt and regret.
3. She realizes her past choices have consequences that have altered her "beautiful baby" (Olsen 299), Emily 's happiness.
D. Emily’s harsh upbringing influenced her attitude toward her family, education and future. She was a “slow learner, who kept trying to catch up and was absent entirely too often” (Olsen 300).
1. She lacked motivation and was emotionally withdrawn from everyone. She never had close relationships with family or friends.
2. Emily was uninterested in her education or for anything dealing with her future.
3. She felt that “in a couple of years when we’ll all be atom-dead they won’t matter a bit” (Olsen 304).
IV. The absence of the mother and lack of affection influenced Emily 's withdrawal from life and took her need to connect with her mother.
A. She was always being left with someone, the neighbor, family relatives, day care, and the convalescent home.
1. These absences were out of necessity more than choice.
2. Emily’s ability to interact and communicate with others was damaged by the neglect and isolation.
3. The narrator reflects on her choices and admits “I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (Olsen 304).
B. The mother chose financial over emotional support with Emily.
1. When financial means and stability are added to a situation, the quality of life can get better.
2. Once remarried, the narrator’s financial stability improved.
3. With the reduced financial stress, she was able to look at her children with a “face of joy, and not of care or tightness or worry” (Olsen 300).
C. The mother tried to reach out to her daughter, but the damage was already done.
1. Emily would “push away” (Olsen 301) any attempts by the mother.
2. The alienation Emily encountered each time she was sent away altered her ability to connect emotionally with her mother and with society.
3. The mother’s “wisdom came too late” (Olsen 304) to benefit Emily.
4. She was grown and pushed away any affection her mother tried to give.
V. Poverty can cause both emotional and financial stress to the entire family.
A. This story allows us to understand the adversities of a single mother and the effects those hard times had on their mother daughter relationship.
B. Although this story is set during the Great Depression era, we are able to relate to the issues in today’s society.
1. Poverty can cause great turmoil in anyone’s life no matter the time period.
C. Most mothers want the best for their children, and the narrator has made the realization too late.
1. Despite the turmoil that followed Emily, her mother loved her daughter, but was emotionally unavailable to her.
2. Her regrets and burdens have damaged the mother-daughter bond, and now the mother can only hope Emily will be able to create a life that “is more than the dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron” (Olsen 304).
Scott Vaughn
ENGL 3150
I Stand Here Ironing
Motherhood is filled with great joy, but there are many challenges along the way that can be rewarding and damaging to both mother and child. Tillie Olsen gives us a look into the hardships that poverty and absence caused a young family in I Stand Here Ironing. All parents want better for their children, but the hardships caused by poverty can hinder the ability to create strong relationships and make positive choices for the children.
Parents are responsible for the love, support and guidance of their children. Those living in poverty have lower education standards, may lack motivation to improve their circumstances, and are more likely to have poor health and emotional troubles. …show more content…
Everyone had financial hardships during “the pre-relief, pre-WPA world of depression” (Olsen 299). Being abandoned by a husband that "could no longer endure (he wrote in his good-bye note) sharing want with [us]" (Olsen 299) would be devastating to a young mother of this time period. The narrator tried to manage, but the financial burden became overpowering.
The financial struggles alone can be distressing, but the emotional impact can lead to even more damage. As a new mother, instinct is sometimes ignored for what society, family, or friends may believe is better or correct. Olsen leads us to believe that society has a big influence on the choices that were made for a child’s wellbeing. She refers to “they” several times throughout the story. Their opinion had more influence on her decisions than her instincts. The burdens of poverty and times of absence that came early in life diminished the narrator’s emotional attachment to her first born. Emily was isolated from her mother for long periods of time and mistreated by those who cared for her. As the narrator stood ironing, she was overwhelmed with guilt and regret. She realizes her past choices have consequences that have altered her "beautiful baby" (Olsen 299), Emily 's happiness.
Emily’s harsh upbringing influenced her attitude toward her family, education and future. She was a “slow learner, who kept trying to catch up and was absent entirely too often” (Olsen 300). She lacked motivation and was emotionally withdrawn from everyone. She never had close relationships with family or friends. Emily was uninterested in her education or for anything dealing with her future. She felt that “in a couple of years when we’ll all be atom-dead they won’t matter a bit” (Olsen 304).
The absence of the mother and lack of affection influenced Emily 's withdrawal from life and took her need to connect with her mother. She was always being left with someone, the neighbor, family relatives, day care, and the convalescent home. These absences were out of necessity more than choice. Emily’s ability to interact and communicate with others was damaged by the neglect and isolation. The narrator reflects on her choices and admits “I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (Olsen 304).
The mother chose financial over emotional support with Emily. When financial means and stability are added to a situation, the quality of life can get better. Once remarried, the narrator’s financial stability improved. With the reduced financial stress, she was able to look at her children with a “face of joy, and not of care or tightness or worry” (Olsen 300). The mother tried to reach out to her daughter, but the damage was already done. Emily would “push away” (Olsen 301) any attempts by the mother. The alienation Emily encountered each time she was sent away altered her ability to connect emotionally with her mother and with society. The mother’s “wisdom came too late” (Olsen 304) to benefit Emily. She was grown and pushed away any affection her mother tried to give.
Poverty can cause both emotional and financial stress to the entire family. This story allows us to understand the adversities of a single mother and the effects those hard times had on their mother daughter relationship. Although this story is set during the Great Depression era, we are able to relate to the issues in today’s society. Poverty can cause great turmoil in anyone’s life no matter the time period. Most mothers want the best for their children, and the narrator has made the realization too late. Despite the turmoil that followed Emily, her mother loved her daughter, but was emotionally unavailable to her. Her regrets and burdens have damaged the mother-daughter bond, and now the mother can only hope Emily will be able to create a life that “is more than the dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron” (Olsen 304).
Works Cited
Olsen, Tillie. "I Stand Here Ironing." Clifford, John Schilb and John. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2012. 298-304. Print.
I. Motherhood is filled with great joy, but there are many challenges along the way that can be rewarding and damaging to both mother and child.
A. Tillie Olsen gives us a look into the hardships that poverty and absence caused a young family in I Stand Here Ironing.
B. All parents want better for their children, but the hardships caused by poverty can hinder the ability to create strong relationships and make positive choices for the children.
II. Parents are responsible for the love, support and guidance of their children.
A.
Those living in poverty have lower education standards, may lack motivation to improve their circumstances, and are more likely to have poor health and emotional troubles.
B. Everyone had financial hardships during “the pre-relief, pre-WPA world of depression” (Olsen 299).
1. Being abandoned by a husband that "could no longer endure (he wrote in his good-bye note) sharing want with [us]" (Olsen 299) would be devastating to a young mother of this time period.
2. The narrator tried to manage, but the financial burden became overpowering.
III. The financial struggles alone can be distressing, but the emotional impact can lead to even more damage.
A. As a new mother, instinct is sometimes ignored for what society, family, or friends may believe is better or correct.
B. Olsen leads us to believe that society has a big influence on the choices that were made for a child’s wellbeing.
1. She refers to “they” several times throughout the story.
2. Their opinion had more influence on her decisions than her instincts.
C. The burdens of poverty and times of absence that came early in life diminished the narrator’s emotional attachment to her first born.
1. Emily was isolated from her mother for long periods of time and mistreated by those who cared for
her.
2. As the narrator stood ironing, she was overwhelmed with guilt and regret.
3. She realizes her past choices have consequences that have altered her "beautiful baby" (Olsen 299), Emily 's happiness.
D. Emily’s harsh upbringing influenced her attitude toward her family, education and future. She was a “slow learner, who kept trying to catch up and was absent entirely too often” (Olsen 300).
1. She lacked motivation and was emotionally withdrawn from everyone. She never had close relationships with family or friends.
2. Emily was uninterested in her education or for anything dealing with her future.
3. She felt that “in a couple of years when we’ll all be atom-dead they won’t matter a bit” (Olsen 304).
IV. The absence of the mother and lack of affection influenced Emily 's withdrawal from life and took her need to connect with her mother.
A. She was always being left with someone, the neighbor, family relatives, day care, and the convalescent home.
1. These absences were out of necessity more than choice.
2. Emily’s ability to interact and communicate with others was damaged by the neglect and isolation.
3. The narrator reflects on her choices and admits “I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (Olsen 304).
B. The mother chose financial over emotional support with Emily.
1. When financial means and stability are added to a situation, the quality of life can get better.
2. Once remarried, the narrator’s financial stability improved.
3. With the reduced financial stress, she was able to look at her children with a “face of joy, and not of care or tightness or worry” (Olsen 300).
C. The mother tried to reach out to her daughter, but the damage was already done.
1. Emily would “push away” (Olsen 301) any attempts by the mother.
2. The alienation Emily encountered each time she was sent away altered her ability to connect emotionally with her mother and with society.
3. The mother’s “wisdom came too late” (Olsen 304) to benefit Emily.
4. She was grown and pushed away any affection her mother tried to give.
V. Poverty can cause both emotional and financial stress to the entire family.
A. This story allows us to understand the adversities of a single mother and the effects those hard times had on their mother daughter relationship.
B. Although this story is set during the Great Depression era, we are able to relate to the issues in today’s society.
1. Poverty can cause great turmoil in anyone’s life no matter the time period.
C. Most mothers want the best for their children, and the narrator has made the realization too late.
1. Despite the turmoil that followed Emily, her mother loved her daughter, but was emotionally unavailable to her.
2. Her regrets and burdens have damaged the mother-daughter bond, and now the mother can only hope Emily will be able to create a life that “is more than the dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron” (Olsen 304).