Similarities Between 'Everyday Use And I Stand Here Ironing'
Antonio Molina
Mrs. Ramirez
English 68
19 March 2015
In “Everyday use” by Alice Walker and “I stand here ironing” by Tillie Olsen, the main characters Maggie and Emily hold a comparison and contrast. In both short stories, Maggie and Emily’s mother blame themselves for not giving them their all. However, Emily and Maggie did contrast when it came to their special talents they had.
In compassion to Emily and Maggie, they both had mothers whom blamed themselves for not giving them their all. In “I Stand Here Ironing”, Emily’s mother was always working and never had time to love her or see her grow up. For instance, the neighbor says, “You should smile at Emily more when you look at her.”(Walker) Emily’s mom also states, “I loved her, there
were all acts of love.”(Walker) These examples demonstrate how Emily’s mom never had time for her and sadly she never got to love her, she would just act out love when in reality there was never love. In fact, when Emily became sick, her mother began to feel guilt because she never gave much attention to her. Towards the end of the story, Emily’s mother prays that Emily has a better life other than ironing. In “Everyday use”, Maggie’s mom, Mrs. Johnson, realizes that she never gave her all to Maggie and at the end she feels guilt. For example, Mrs. Johnson says, “. I did something I never done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap.”(Olsen) This example demonstrates how Mrs. Johnson realizes that she never gave her all the Maggie, which is why she decided to give Maggie the quilts. In fact, after all the commotion, Maggie and her mother at the end of the story spend some quality time enjoying the rest of the day till it was time to go to bed. In contrast, Emily and Maggie had their own talents that were depicted throughout these two short stories. In “Everyday use”, Maggie’s talent was that she could make quilts. For instance, Mrs. Johnson states, “It was Grandma Dee and Big Dee who taught her how to quilt herself.”(Walker) Also, Dee, Maggie’s sister says,”‘She can always make some more,’ I said. ‘Maggie knows how to quilt.’”(Walker) These examples demonstrate how Maggie had talent to make quilts and that she was also taught by her grandmother. In the short story “I Stand Here Ironing”, Emily shows that she has great talent in comedy. For example, Emily’s mom says, “one morning she phoned me at work, hardly understandable through the weeping: ‘Mother, I did it. I won, I won; they gave me first prize; they clapped and clapped and wouldn't let me go.’”(Olsen) Also, Maggie’s mom states, “She began to be asked to perform at other high schools, even colleges, than at city and statewide affairs. The first one we went to, I only recognized her that first moment when thin, shy, she almost drowned herself into the curtains. Then: Was this Emily? The control, the command, the convulsing and deadly clowning, the spell, then the roaring, the stamping audience, unwilling to let this rare and precious laughter out of their lives.”(Olsen) These examples demonstrate how Emily had such amazing talent in comedy that she even began to get asked to perform for other high schools other than hers.
Mrs. Ramirez
English 68
19 March 2015
In “Everyday use” by Alice Walker and “I stand here ironing” by Tillie Olsen, the main characters Maggie and Emily hold a comparison and contrast. In both short stories, Maggie and Emily’s mother blame themselves for not giving them their all. However, Emily and Maggie did contrast when it came to their special talents they had.
In compassion to Emily and Maggie, they both had mothers whom blamed themselves for not giving them their all. In “I Stand Here Ironing”, Emily’s mother was always working and never had time to love her or see her grow up. For instance, the neighbor says, “You should smile at Emily more when you look at her.”(Walker) Emily’s mom also states, “I loved her, there
were all acts of love.”(Walker) These examples demonstrate how Emily’s mom never had time for her and sadly she never got to love her, she would just act out love when in reality there was never love. In fact, when Emily became sick, her mother began to feel guilt because she never gave much attention to her. Towards the end of the story, Emily’s mother prays that Emily has a better life other than ironing. In “Everyday use”, Maggie’s mom, Mrs. Johnson, realizes that she never gave her all to Maggie and at the end she feels guilt. For example, Mrs. Johnson says, “. I did something I never done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap.”(Olsen) This example demonstrates how Mrs. Johnson realizes that she never gave her all the Maggie, which is why she decided to give Maggie the quilts. In fact, after all the commotion, Maggie and her mother at the end of the story spend some quality time enjoying the rest of the day till it was time to go to bed. In contrast, Emily and Maggie had their own talents that were depicted throughout these two short stories. In “Everyday use”, Maggie’s talent was that she could make quilts. For instance, Mrs. Johnson states, “It was Grandma Dee and Big Dee who taught her how to quilt herself.”(Walker) Also, Dee, Maggie’s sister says,”‘She can always make some more,’ I said. ‘Maggie knows how to quilt.’”(Walker) These examples demonstrate how Maggie had talent to make quilts and that she was also taught by her grandmother. In the short story “I Stand Here Ironing”, Emily shows that she has great talent in comedy. For example, Emily’s mom says, “one morning she phoned me at work, hardly understandable through the weeping: ‘Mother, I did it. I won, I won; they gave me first prize; they clapped and clapped and wouldn't let me go.’”(Olsen) Also, Maggie’s mom states, “She began to be asked to perform at other high schools, even colleges, than at city and statewide affairs. The first one we went to, I only recognized her that first moment when thin, shy, she almost drowned herself into the curtains. Then: Was this Emily? The control, the command, the convulsing and deadly clowning, the spell, then the roaring, the stamping audience, unwilling to let this rare and precious laughter out of their lives.”(Olsen) These examples demonstrate how Emily had such amazing talent in comedy that she even began to get asked to perform for other high schools other than hers.