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I Stand Here Ironing By Tillie Olsen

520 Words3 Pages

In I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen, the story represents the theme of challenges single mothers endure. Olsen uses symbol analysis to convey female depowerment through the characters' relationships, economic, and social situations, and the struggle of parenting.
Firstly, Olsen uses symbol analysis to convey female depowerment through the characters' relationships, economic, and social situations. Approximately a year after Emily was born, the father left the mother because he “could no longer endure". This represents female depowerment because now the mom has to care for Emily alone. Following this, the mom had to work at odd times to care for Emily which resulted in their relationship becoming distant. "I used to try to hold and love her …show more content…

Lastly, Emily had a crush on a boy in her class, "Licorice was his favorite and I bought him some every day, but he still liked Jennifer better'n me." Emily is
Scott 2 depowered by this action because even though she was being thoughtful, the boy still liked someone else.
Secondly, Olsen uses symbol analysis to convey the struggle of parenting. Throughout
Emily's life, her mother continued to search for jobs that would support them. However, once
Emily's brothers and sisters were born, Emily had to help parent her other siblings while her mother was away or worked tirelessly. "I was working, there were four smaller ones now, there was not time for her. She had to help be a mother, and housekeeper, and shopper." In addition, since the mother was working weird hours, she eventually had to send Emily to stay with the father's relatives, "I came to where I had to bring her to family and leave her." Finally, the author connects the story with her own life because of the birth of her daughter Karla on December

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On top of that, Emily also had abandonment issues, as a result of her mother constantly sending her away. “I used to try to hold and lover her after she came back, but her body would stiff and after a while she’d push away.” (Olsen 4) Emily’s abandonment issues caused her to think no one would love her, making her act cold towards others. At the end of the story Emily tries out for a comedy show and ends up winning.

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