I Stand Here Ironing Essay
I Stand Here Ironing- Exploring the Text
Some of the main themes that are exemplified in the work include ideals of family connections, stifling beauty expectations, the daily life of motherhood, etc. The ironing board represents the life of a housewife, and the repetitive chores that ensue. It shows the mother is the responsible head of the house during the war, and thus the caretaker. The act of ironing may symbolize the mother’s attempt to iron through, work through, or smooth out what is happening in her life.
The interruptions provide breaks in her thinking and her flashbacks. The contrast in the sentences relay the sense that she is alternating between reminiscing and communicating with and explaining to the person on the other end of her phone call. As she drifts between both states, so does the tone of her sentences and phrases.
The mother is first defensive with the teacher because she feels slightly attacked, as if she couldn’t possibly explain what is wrong because she feels as though she hasn’t been the biggest influencer in her daughter’s life. The mother then begins to open up to the narrator as she tells her story, reminiscing about her daughter’s childhood. She …show more content…
This psychologically affected Emily’s early development and her relationship with her mother. Emily spent time with the woman downstairs and the her father’s family, after her father abandoned her. She is further separated from her mother when she is put in a form of daycare, and when she was sick with chickenpox. She is then sent to a home that is essentially joyless, gloomy, and does a poor quality job of caring for the children. All of these oppressive moments, especially those spent away from her mother—the person who is supposed to show you love, warmth and comfort— have lead to her perspective. However, she seems resilient and very
Some of the main themes that are exemplified in the work include ideals of family connections, stifling beauty expectations, the daily life of motherhood, etc. The ironing board represents the life of a housewife, and the repetitive chores that ensue. It shows the mother is the responsible head of the house during the war, and thus the caretaker. The act of ironing may symbolize the mother’s attempt to iron through, work through, or smooth out what is happening in her life.
The interruptions provide breaks in her thinking and her flashbacks. The contrast in the sentences relay the sense that she is alternating between reminiscing and communicating with and explaining to the person on the other end of her phone call. As she drifts between both states, so does the tone of her sentences and phrases.
The mother is first defensive with the teacher because she feels slightly attacked, as if she couldn’t possibly explain what is wrong because she feels as though she hasn’t been the biggest influencer in her daughter’s life. The mother then begins to open up to the narrator as she tells her story, reminiscing about her daughter’s childhood. She …show more content…
This psychologically affected Emily’s early development and her relationship with her mother. Emily spent time with the woman downstairs and the her father’s family, after her father abandoned her. She is further separated from her mother when she is put in a form of daycare, and when she was sick with chickenpox. She is then sent to a home that is essentially joyless, gloomy, and does a poor quality job of caring for the children. All of these oppressive moments, especially those spent away from her mother—the person who is supposed to show you love, warmth and comfort— have lead to her perspective. However, she seems resilient and very