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…
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
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…
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