"I Stand Here Ironing" Question #10

I would have to agree with Robert Coles’ optimistic view of the character of Emily in Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing.” The story centers on Emily’s mother’s belief that she had not done enough for her child while she had been growing up. While she was unable to raise her in the fashion she wished, Emily’s mother loved her child desperately enough to brave the conditions of the Depression to find work to provide for her. “She was a miracle to me, but when she was eight months old I had to leave her daytimes with the woman downstairs to whom she was no miracle at all, for I had worked or looked for work and for Emily’s father, who ‘could no longer endure’ (he wrote in his good-bye note)’sharing want with us’ “ (Olsen 284). Believing she had been neglectful in her duties as a parent Emily’s mother sees the person her daughter has become yet does not fully understand that she too had a part to play in her development into a well rounded young woman. “Let her be. So that all that is in her will not bloom – but in how many does it?” (Olsen 289).

Throughout the story we see a family who is plagued by unfortunate circumstances which separate mother and child both psychologically and physically at times. While this separation creates a rift between the character of the mother and Emily, the lack of parental guidance and affection brings forth in the girl a wealth of creativity and compassion that goes untapped in most children. We see examples of this in Emily’s character throughout the story. The first indication of her good nature would be her early school years, while even having a particularly wicked teacher she would not openly complain to her mother. “I knew Emily hated it even if she did not clutch and implore ‘don’t go Mommy’ like the other children, mornings” (Olsen 284). The next example of this is during her stay at the convalescent home when Emily seemed to take in one of the smaller sick girls. “There was a tiny girl who always stood hand in hand with Emily. Her parents never came” (Olsen 286). After this passage we find that particular girl had been moved to another facility because, as Emily puts it, “They don’t want you to love anybody here” (Olsen 286). The implication being that because of Emily’s deep caring for this girl the staff saw fit to move her. Later as Emily matures into her teen years we find that she has a particular talent for the stage. At first her mother does not recognize her own child on the stage, but after seeing her realizes the gift was there the entire time, if unused, and was in fact fostered by the shortage of material and emotional support. “We have left it all to her, and the gift has as often eddied inside, clogged and clotted, as been used and growing” (Olsen 288).

In conclusion, the character of Emily is not a tragic tale of neglectful parentship, but rather the uplifting case of what children are able to achieve even when lacking. Emily made up for her “shortcomings” with great recompense in other areas of her life, eventually becoming a bright, thoughtful and talented adult. For despite the era, she seemed to attend college, as her mother mentioned “midterms” (Olsen 288), which is a remarkable achievement for a woman of her day in itself. While her mother may lament about the perceived misgivings of her upbringing, many parents would consider Emily to be a child worthy of praise.