I Stand Here Ironing By Tillie Olsen

“I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen is a story about a mother who loves her child deeply, but it is at a depressing time in history. Other dark influences seem to have a negative effect on Emily’s personality such as the mother giving birth to her at a young age and having few resources. I think the climax of the story is when Emily calls her mother to tell her she has won the amateur school show. Emily and her mother seem equally surprised. Although Emily is happy at the moment, it doesn’t really change Emily internally where all the problems seem to root from. The mother seems to be reflecting on the whole life of Emily as she begins the story with, “I stand here ironing” (p312) and ends the story still at the ironing board (p317). Emily’s