Insecurities In "I Stand Here Ironing"
Insecurities in “I Stand Here Ironing”
“I Stand Here Ironing” written by Tillie Olsen uncovers the struggles of a young single mother raising a small child during the Great Depression. In this short story the narrator is a mother re-collecting the challenges of raising her first born, Emily. The mother has difficulties realizing her priorities. Juggling her time between work, a new man, and later five children, Emily is always next and never first. It is a sad story of a child who is denied the attention she needs to thrive. This inevitably affects Emily’s social and emotional demeanor.
The narrator implies that she is knowledgeable on parenting stating “I did like the books then said” (174), but the maternal instinct is clearly lacking. Leaving Emily with relatives for a period of time introduces abandonment and trust issues to the young girl. Being left with multiple people with whom she had no bond, leaves the child feeling unwanted and neglected by her mother; the only person she desires to be with. Always listening to others, the mother is advised that her daughter, now age two, is old enough for nursery school. Acknowledging that “Emily hated it” (175) the mother chooses to ignore her instincts, and leaves her anyway. Emily is a child with a “rare gift for comedy on the stage” (176), but noticeably loses her spark after being sent away for a second time. After returning home to her mother, and a new man called daddy, insecurities of
Mackey 2
being left arise in the girl and she pleads not to be left alone. Asking her mother to promise that she will not be gone long, Emily is disappointed when they return stating “it wasn’t just a little while” (176). This ultimately leaves the child unable to trust her mothers’ promises.
As if it wasn’t bad enough, Emily falls ill during the same time her mother gives birth to a second child, Susan. Due to her sickness, Emily is unable to take part in this joyous occasion. She must keep her distance from her mother...
View Full Essay