I stand here ironing is a short story written by Tillie Olsen. The story is narrated in first person point of view by a mother who is ironing and thinking about her daughter, Emily. The mother reflects on Emily's childhood and how she has struggled as a single mother to provide for her. The story focuses on the theme of motherhood and the sacrifices that mothers make for their children. The mother in the story is forced to choose between her work and her child, and she ultimately decides that her work is more important. This decision is made evident when she reflects on a time when she left Emily home alone to go to work. The story ends with the mother still ironing and thinking about her daughter.
What is the main theme of the story?
The main theme of the story is that of hope. Specifically, the hope that comes from enduring tough times and coming out the other side stronger. The story follows the lives of several characters who are all going through different tribulations, but who all find hope in different ways. One character, for example, finds hope in his family and friends, while another finds hope in his work. Ultimately, the story argues that hope is something that can be found anywhere, as long as one looks for it.
How does the theme develop throughout the story?
The theme of a story is the main idea or moral lesson that the author wants to communicate to the reader. The theme develops throughout the story as the characters experience the events and learn from them. For example, in the story "The Tortoise and the Hare," the theme is that "Slow and steady wins the race." The tortoise steadily plods along while the hare runs ahead and takes a nap. As a result, the tortoise eventually overtakes the hare and wins the race. This theme is developed throughout the story as the characters experience the events and learn from them. In the end, the tortoise learns that slow and steady does indeed win the race, while the hare learns that it is important to pace oneself and not take unnecessary risks.
What does the story suggest about the nature of motherhood?
In the story, "A Mother's love", the author suggests that the nature of motherhood is unselfish and unconditional. A mother's love for her children is pure and she will do anything to protect them and keep them safe. even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the message of I Stand Here Ironing?
In “I Stand Here Ironing,” Olsen suggests that the role of selfless mother that society expects women to embrace is actually an obstacle to any kind of successful self-discovery. Rather than help women achieve self-actualization, motherhood actually strands women in lives laden with toil and excessive responsibility.
What is the theme of the story I Stand Here?
I Stand Here Ironing Domestic Life, Labor, and Poverty is a story about the relationships between families and the labor that they do.
What does the “Iron” represent in this story?
The iron in Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing" is symbolic of the mother's attempt to straighten out her feelings about her daughter Emily, and about herself.
What is the mother-child relationship in I Stand Here Ironing?
The mother-child relationship is the focus of “I Stand Here Ironing.” The close bond created in the days of infancy is threatened as soon as the mother must consign the child to a sitter. Both the mother and the child regret and resist the absences that weaken the bond and obstruct its development. Ultimately, however, both come to understand that having a strong relationship requires occasional sacrifice.
What is the meaning of the poem I Stand Here Ironing?
The protagonist of the poem feels powerless to improve the fortune of her daughter, Emily. She reflects on guilt and regret over the course of the poem, and ultimately comes to the realization that she cannot change events in Emily's life. This gives her a sense of defeat, which spills into the lines "I stand here ironing / When I should be out there helping."
