I Stand Here Ironing, Sweat, And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

There are many pieces of literature that view women as shallow creatures and incapable of doing anything for themselves, other than manipulate men. Despite these pieces, there are many more that show women as powerful, strong, and capable. These women can be find in many pieces of literature like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter, and Ella Enchanted. The pieces of literature that will be the focus of this paper, though, are: Two Kinds by Amy Tan, I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen, and Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston. The theme of these pieces of literature is strong women.
Two Kinds
The story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan tells of the main character Jing-mei Woo’s childhood and the effects of her mother’s high expectations for her life. In
the story, Jing-mei says, “And then I saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of me - a face I had never seen before. I looked at my reflection, blinking so that I could see more clearly. The girl staring back at me was angry, powerful. She and I were the same. I had new thoughts, willful thoughts - or rather, thoughts filled with lots of won'ts. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not.” This quote is an example of how Jing-mei was a strong woman. She chose to not let her mother choose who she was. Instead, she decided to be who she was, despite who it may displease. Jing-mei deciding this was a hard decision, but shows her strength, even as young girl. She chose not to let anyone tell her who she was or was going to be.
Furthermore, she said, ““"What are you picking on her for?" I said carelessly. “She’s pretty good. Maybe she's not the best, but she's trying hard." I knew almost immediately that I would be sorry I had said that.” In this quote, Jing-mei chooses to be strong by standing up for another person. As a young girl, this was a hard decision, but due to her strength she was able to stand up for another person to her mother. Standing up to her mother was especially difficult. This is a great example of how strong she was.
I Stand Here Ironing
“I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen tells the story of a mother prompted to think of her daughter and starts reflecting on their life.
She says in this story, “I worked or looked for work and for Emily's father, who "could no longer endure" (he wrote in his good-bye note) "sharing want with us."” This quote is an example of how strong the mother was in her struggle. She chose to take over the role of the provider and get job. This action was a difficult one to pursue, especially in the era she was. Because she went out and got/looked for a job she chose to be a strong woman and provide opposed to following into the common view of women at that time of being weak and
incapable.
She later went on to say, “After a while I found a job hashing at night so I could be with her days, and it was better. But it came to where I had to bring her to his family and leave her.” This exemplifies strength through her actions to be a provider, but also hand her child over to the family of the father that left her. This decision is a hard one for any mother and requires great strength to make. She had that strength and acted upon it.
Lastly, she stated, “It took a long time to raise the money for her fare back. Then she got chicken pox and I had to wait longer. When she finally came, 1hardly knew her, walking quick and nervous like her father, looking like her father, thin, and dressed in a shoddy red that yellowed her skin and glared at the pockmarks. All the baby loveliness gone.” This is an example of her strength in many forms. As a mother, it is hard to let your daughter grow up in the home of another, especially someone you know has left her before. She knew they needed money and then her daughter got sick. For a mother, this is a difficult thing to just stand by and hear about while not being able to help your child physically. It requires strength to see your baby girl, after so long, not looking well and walking like the father who left her. It takes strength to not be mad about how your child has been treated. It takes strength to leave your child for so long because it is what is good for her.
Sweat
The story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston tells of a woman in a terrible marriage and the way she gets through it.
As Lewis Carroll would say, she, Delia, was the carpenter and he, Sykes, was the walrus. One example of her strength is found in this quote, “She seized the iron skillet from the stove and struck a defensive pose, which act surprised him greatly, coming from her.” Delia had never before been a strong woman. She had always abided by her husband and let him abuse her. This time, though, she refused to be a victim. Instead, she chose to be strong. She stood up for herself and decided to make things happen opposed to letting things happen to
her.
Another example is in this quote, “"Looka heah, Sykes, you done gone too fur. Ah been married to you fur fifteen years, and Ah been takin' in washin' for fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!"” This is the first time that she starts standing up for herself. She declares that she is the one who is the provider and doing all the work. This quote is her telling him that she is the strong one and she can make it on her own and has been without him. She doesn’t need him and she is letting him know that. Her strength doesn’t need to be fueled by him. She is already strong. Lastly, she exudes strength in this passage, “Delia descended without fear now, and crouched beneath the low bedroom window.” This passage is an example of her facing her fears and being brave. In this section she has left the house because there was a snake, her greatest fear, about in the house. After she leaves the house the snake goes after her husband. She hears a sound and that is when she “descended without fear”. She exudes strength in this passage by facing her fears and approaching the situation.

Conclusion
In the end, it is apparent that there is an overall theme of strong women throughout these pieces of literature. Strong women have not always existed in literature, but our world is changing to show women for what they are capable. Mandy Hale said about strong women, “Strong women don’t play victim, don’t make themselves look pitiful, and don’t point fingers. They stand and deal.” Women all over the world and throughout literature have proven to be strong. Who are some strong women you know?