ipl-logo

Symbolism In Tillie Olsen's I Stand Here Ironing

734 Words3 Pages

A common conflict within a familial unit is the parent-child relationship. There are countless works of literature that discuss and analyze the topic thoroughly. I Stand Here Ironing is a short story, by Tillie Olsen, that beautifully displays the perspective of the working single mother in the mid-nineteen hundreds. Olsen’s strategic use of several literary elements highlight the personal struggles of single mothers who have conflicting feelings about motherly duties and “bread-winning” obligations. These literary elements include: point of view, first-person narrator, stream of consciousness, symbolism, and revelation of human nature. I Stand Here Ironing is an excellent piece of literature that both elicits empathy for and critiques the …show more content…

Throughout the text the iron seems to be mentioned when there is a societal, financial, or personal issue. The iron could be used to symbolize the responsibilities of the narrator. The mother is constantly embroiled with responsibilities and duties that she must prioritize to keep her family, literally, alive. There is a passage in the text that she mentions the iron going back and forth, potentially symbolizing her constant obligations. The iron could also be a symbol of self-worth and social pressures. The narrator hopes that her daughter will not be “helpless before the iron,” suggesting that she understand that she is more that what she has seen. The narrator wants to emphasize that the daughter should learn from her mistakes and overcome the obstacles that she had to deal …show more content…

The conflict that many single women have is trying to provide for their family while establishing and fostering deep connections with their children. Often times it is difficult for single mothers because there is not enough time for both. The use of first person narration, stream on consciousness, and the point of view of the story really allow for the reader to get a empathize with the mother. Moreover, the symbolism, theme, and conflict of the story convey the unadulterated dialogue and feelings of guilt and regret. Overall, Tillie Olsen created a great piece of literature that gives an accurate depiction of the struggles that many single mothers face regarding the relationship with their children and meeting

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Florence Kelley

    412 Words  | 2 Pages

    This speech is being delivered in Philadelphia to a convention of vigorous women who are willing to fight for their desires. An emotional appear is used to target the nurturing side of each and every woman in attendance. The adults of the United States are sound asleep while the sweet, innocent children are slaving away in factories. Kelley even goes as far as to criticize the women for ignoring this fight while “the children make [their] shoes in the shoe factories; knit [their] stockings, [their] knitted underwear in the knitting factories.” The author intends to use this appeal to provoke the motherly instincts of the attendees to join her and her cause.

    Read More

  • Fae Myenne Ng Bone Summary

    1912 Words  | 8 Pages

    (page 5) Leila said this to the reader when she was explaining some of the complications she faced in her new home country. It made feel sympathy for them because they were constantly put on a stage to be judged by people that didn’t know what is was like to be in their shoes. The imagery in this allowed me to not only see what would happen but to understand and relate to them. Also, the short sentence gives a type of effect on pathos. In a way it is like she is saying it in a sorrowful way.

    Read More

  • The Struggle In Mary Freeman's The Revolt Of Mother

    676 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 19th century, women were overshadowed by the men of their household, therefore they had no sense of independence nor dominance. In Mary Freeman’s short story, “The Revolt of Mother,” the author presents Sarah Penn, a woman who takes a stand against her husband. In the beginning, the reader learns that Sarah is a hardworking mother and wife. She maintains the household work and meets her children needs. She is suddenly confused of her husband’s actions concerning their future.

    Read More

  • A Literary Analysis Of Budge Wilson's 'The Leaving'

    969 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sylvie and her mother are expected to follow rules and to do chores with no questions asked. When Sylvie leaves the house in the early hours of the morning with her mother, Sylvie is thoroughly confused. Her main question when she left with her mother to Halifax was “how would Pa and my brothers cook their dinner? How would they make their bed?” (Wilson, 1990, p. 2).

    Read More

  • Symbolism In 'Everyday Use' By Alice Walker

    1561 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the short story “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker shows the conflicts and struggles with people of the African-American culture in America. The author focuses on the members of the Johnson family, who are the main characters. In the family there are 2 daughters and a mother. The first daughter is named Maggie, who had been injured in a house fire has been living with her mom. Her older sister is Dee, who grew up with natural beauty wanted to have a better life than her mother and sister.

    Read More

  • Sing Unburied Sing Lee Analysis

    1406 Words  | 6 Pages

    Best of the Worst Parenting is never perfect. Every parents questions whether they are raising their child correctly, and no parent ever feels like they are doing the right thing. With no clear distinction between good and bad parenting, it is usually left to personal preferences and judgements to decide which parents have adequately raised their children and which have failed. When a parent so call “fails,” often it is the children with their strong will and determination to survive that collectively raise themselves. In Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing, Leonie, one of the narrators and the mother of another narrator, Jojo, is not the most caring, hands-on mother, but is loving of her children nevertheless.

    Read More

  • Sacrifice In Toni Morrison's In Beloved

    1238 Words  | 5 Pages

    For, in relinquishing, a mother feels strong and liberal; and in guild she finds the motivation to right wrong. Women throughout time have been compelled to cope with the remonstrances of motherhood along with society’s anticipations

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Dusting By Julia Alverez

    906 Words  | 4 Pages

    The poem Dusting by Julia Alverez relays several ideas to the reader. It begins by describing a young child going about a house and writing their name on the furniture. The child 's mother follows behind her and, in the process of dusting, incidentally erases the writing. While this poem may seem superficial from a quick reading, it not only reflects some aspects of Alverez’s childhood, but it also reveals some thought provoking questions. In Dusting, through making an analogy to a relationship between a mother and her child, Julia Alvarez demonstrates her desire to break away from traditional or cultural expectations, express her individuality, be well-known, and, ultimately, she makes an important point about life.

    Read More

  • Lamb To The Slaughter Literary Analysis

    1237 Words  | 5 Pages

    This essay will explain those literary elements, how they allow

    Read More

  • Motherhood In The Yellow Wallpaper And I Stand Here Ironing

    1619 Words  | 7 Pages

    The concept of motherhood and the role of women have existed since the beginning of time and throughout various points it has differ. There is no limit to what can be considered motherhood. To one person, motherhood might mean the act of raising children and taking care of their family, and to another; motherhood might be what defines them as a person. This is seen in Tillie Olsen’s short story “I Stand Here Ironing” and the “Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In both stories, the main characters were dealing with the struggles of motherhood and being a wife.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Why I Want A Wife

    557 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 1970’s women were expected to stay at home and take care of the household. They were usually not expected to further their education, but instead take care of the children or tend to their husbands’ needs. In 1972 Judy Brady decided to let the readers of Ms. Magazine know how she felt about her “duties”. In her short essay, “Why I Want a Wife,” Brady uses pathos to connect and appeal to the reader’s emotions while explaining why she wants a wife.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Anney Boatwright In Bastard Out Of Carolina

    1117 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Betrayal of Anney Boatwright in Bastard Out of Carolina Thrust into motherhood at the age of fourteen Anney Boatwright sets out to prove she is a good caring mother. Throughout a Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison, she provides examples of Anney Boatwright as a loving mother of Reese and Bone, but then instances occur that show that might not be true. This essay will show that Anney Boatwright appears to love and care about her family, but fails as a mother because she lacks introspect, puts her daughters at risk, and abandons her family. Anney Boatwright shows time and time again that she lacks introspect, which repeatedly has a negative impact on her family. She marries Glen Waddell, who appears charming, but has a darker side.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Isolationism In Margaret Atwood's Lusus Naturae

    1452 Words  | 6 Pages

    Margaret Atwood’s short story, “Lusus Naturae” portrays the story of a woman who has to face the problem of isolationism and discrimination throughout her whole life. In this short story, the protagonist very early in her life has been diagnosed with a decease known as porphyria. Due to the lack of knowledge at the time, she did not receive the help required to help her situation. Thus she was kept in the dark, her appearance frightens the outsiders who could not accept the way she looks, slowly resulting in her isolationism physically and mentally from the outside world. This even caused her to separate herself from the only world she knew her family.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis: I Stand Here Ironing

    962 Words  | 4 Pages

    Despite its dull, ordinary setting, “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen is an extremely deep short story covering complex socio-economic issues spanning over two—very eventful—decades. The story shows how economic hardships could physically alter the stereotypical gender roles, while cultural traditions kept them mentally intact. When these two elements contradicted each other, they left women, like Tillie Olsen’s character, feeling emotionally responsible for the consequences. Although her husband left her and she was forced to assume the role of both the breadwinner and the homemaker at only nineteen years old, she blames herself for neglecting what was thought to be her primary duty as a woman: motherhood. As the reader can tell from

    Read More

  • Use Of Literary Elements In The Monkey's Paw By W. Jacobs

    622 Words  | 3 Pages

    To have a great story, it has to make use of literary elements to give detail and depth to a story. Stories can leave a feeling or thought that can make the reader think about what they just read. Making use of literary elements can help give hints to what the story is gonna be about or what is going to happen in the future. The four stories that our class read use these two elements and a few of the stories can almost tell the entire story just in the first two pages. Two of the most well used literary elements is symbolism and foreshadowing.

    Read More

More about Symbolism In Tillie Olsen's I Stand Here Ironing

Open Document