"A Worn Path"

“A Worn Path,” by Eudora Welty is an immaculately written short story of an old woman’s journey down a cold winter path to aid her grandson by getting him a bottle of medicine. I believe the main theme of this story to be about the plight and struggle of the black race. It is first important to recognize this story takes place throughout America’s segregation years, as Old Phoenix states she was alive at the time of “the Surrender”(454), which according to the sub-text refers to the end of the Civil War. There is no question that Phoenix has been through many trials in her life as “her eyes were blue with age” (449). The color blue refers to spirit, intellect, truth and transparency, according to umich.edu. Also her name suggests perhaps that she symbolizes many generations of her race, since the phoenix is a mythical bird that supposedly lives eternally.
Along her path, Phoenix encounters multiple antagonists. The first is a thorny bush which “never want to let folks pass,” (450). This can be compared to slave traders, refusing to let slaves escape their imprisonment. As she progresses through fields she states that she “heard of nary death close by,” (451) and even when a gun is held to her face she does not fear it. Another struggle comes in the form of the nurse at the doctor’s office who is not familiar with Phoenix and assumes her for “a charity case,” (453) which must have been a common stereotype in that era.
Throughout the entire story Phoenix encounters adversity and overcomes. She signifies many worn generations that had to fight for everything because at that time they had no rights. Also, true to her name, she signifies a rebirth, or new way of life, a sign of things to come for her people.

"The Chrysanthemums"

Symbolism references to the objects, events or relationships in ones' life. In "The Chrysanthemums" one of the main symbols is the title of the story itself. Chrysanthemums, a beautiful and vibrant flower I believe is Elisa's pride and joy. When her husband Henry states, "I wish you'd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big", (Steinbeck, p. 633) seems to show his disinterest in her flowers and a sense of mistreatment. "The Chrysanthemums" resemble who she really is, a beautiful and strong-willed woman. Another symbol might be her garden, in the sense that she seems to be in there alot, it is almost like a hiding place for her. A place she feels she belongs, where she may not feel that way anywhere else. This old man comes along and pretends to have an interest in the flowers and Elisa loves the idea of a man showing some interest in her work. In return she gives him a pot of Chrysanthemums as he is about to leave. Later as Henry and Elisa were riding to town to eat she saw the flowers on the gravel road, as if that old man had just dumped them out. I would refer to the flowers on the road as a sense of being used and she felt neglected. " She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that was crying weakly---like an old woman." (Steinbeck, p. 639) is a prime example of how she felt she had lost all womanhood and confidence from that incident. "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a reflection of women who live in confinement and under their husbands hopes.

I Stand Here Ironing ~ Unit 5

In the short story, I Stand Here Ironing, Tillie Olsen uses the narrator’s mental stream of conscious thought to express her inner most feelings about her parenting flaws. By using this technique, Olsen has allowed readers to analyze her personal rationales and reasoning for raising her daughter the way she did. The narrator was forced to leave Emily in the hands of various child care providers, but the reason she feels guilty is the mere fact that Emily’s mother knew that these providers were not able to provide the nurturing, healthy environment that Emily needed for optimal growth. “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” (284). She felt responsible for the fact that Emily had not been given the attention she deserved, at home and at school. “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. She had to set her seal” (287). The narrator feels that her lack of time has greatly influenced Emily’s development. “She was a child of anxious, not proud, love. We were poor and could not afford for her the soil of easy growth.. I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (288).

Although the narrator believes she has failed as a mother with Emily, she didn’t have the resources to help foster the growth of her daughter. “It was the only place there was. It was the only way we could be together, the only way I could hold a job” (284). She had to make sacrifices as a single mother if she wanted to keep her children, and she had made a significant effort to show Emily that she was loved, although it was often after she was completely exhausted. “I would start running as soon as I got off the streetcar, running up the stairs…” (284). The narrator has not shown signs of being an inadequate mother, but rather, she was forced to choose between being a supportive, loving mother to Emily and fulfilling her role as the sole financial supporter of the family.

In The lottery by Shirley Jackson, the characters choice in what they wore was a very significant symbol. They all chose not to wear their best attire as a person would normally wear if they were going to an important lottery where the outcome would be a good reward. The way the author explained, “the women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters” (405), brings an awareness in the beginning of the story that people were not there for a lottery like are held in today’s times. People would normally dress up in better clothes if going to an exciting function where they were intending on winning something good.
The conversation also depicts a somber picture of the day as well as the clothes. When the men began to gather “their jokes were quiet and they smiled instead of laughed” (405) suggesting that this time was not for a joyous gathering. Both the way the villagers were dressed and the tone of conversation before the lottery, gives readers an insight to the rest of the story.
-Colleen P

"I Stand Here Ironing" is a story written about a young mother trying to be all she could be during the Great Depression. Being a mother myself, I know how much we all want give 100% and she could not do that causing her to feel like she failed herself as a mother and failed Emily, because Emily depended on her to take care of her needs. Times were tough during the Great Depression and Emily's mother had to work wherever and whenever she could and this meant she had to leave Emily with people that could not care for her the way her mother could. She felt like Emily was not being well-cared for when she left her but she was left with no other options because she had to go to work. It was not that Emily's mother was a bad mother. She was a good mother and although it did not seem like it, she did have Emily in her best interest.

The Lottery

In the short story, The Lottery written by Shirley Jackson there are many different significant meanings portrayed from beginning to end. Old Man Warner says, "People ain't the way they used to be" (pg 410). This is an old man who has been around since the very start of this tradition and he finds that the village people are not as loyal as they have been. When Mrs. Adams explains of how other villages are not doing the lottery anymore, he snarls back with how crazy these people must be. Mrs. Hutchinson's apron signifies that these people are from the early developments of society. These villages relied on their crops for their very survival. Hard work and tradition go a long way to these people. The black spot on the paper also was significant in that it was the mark of death. Maybe the chosen one to be sacrificed for the harvest.

Kirzner and Mandell. Literature:reading,reacting,writing. 2007.

I Stand Here Ironing

In “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen Emily’s mother feels that she has in some ways failed as a mother. She had to leave Emily many times as a young child because times were very tough. There was very little work for anyone, and she was a single mother trying to do everything she could to take care of Emily. She knows now that she somewhat knew that Emily was not being treated right when left in the care of others but she had no other choice. She feels that Emily was pushed aside many times also because of the other children and the responsibilities that Emily had taken on. I feel that Emily’s mom did everything she knew how to and that when she sent her away she had no other choice. I feel she was a good mother because she did everything she could to give her daughter the best life that she could give her. I like to think that I would never have left my child in a place where she was not getting the very best care but that was a different time and until you’re in that position you never know what you would do. Emily’s mother loved her.

The Storm

The story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin was a great story. The storm that was brewing outside was also brewing inside between two past lovers. I don’t think that the storm excuses the behavior from Calixta and Alce`e. After all they are both adults and should know right from wrong. The storm was the reason why they had committed adultery,and it was the reason why Alce`e stopped by her house to escape from the storm but it does not excuse their actions. They could have prevented this from happening by stopping it as soon as it started. It disturbs me that she not only had the affair in her house but the way she acted after her affair. She went on like nothing happened and had no remorse for what took place in her home that she shares with her family. “Calixta was preparing supper. She had set the table and was dripping coffee at the hearth. She sprang up as they came in.” (258) Calixta even kisses her husband on the cheek. You wouldn’t expect someone to act so casual after something like that had just happened.

"The Lottery" - Everything is not as it seems

Does Shirley Jackson give us “The Lottery” to serve as a symbol of horror in a world torn apart by indifference to our fellow man, or does Jackson just give us an interesting story with a strange twist? The setting is a little town on a beautiful morning, ”clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (405), making the reader believe that a sweet story is on the way. What Jackson actually does is to hit us in the face with an ironic twist, proving that everything is not always what it seems to be.

In a quaint village square “between the post office and the bank” (405), a symbol of anywhere USA where June Cleaver may be baking cookies in the kitchen, the villagers meet to carry out a bizarre ritual referred to as the lottery. No one questions the ageless tradition because “there’s always been a lottery” (405). When someone does talk about doing away with the lottery they are put down by Old Man Warner, calling them “a pack of crazy fools” (405). This old man has been through the lottery 77 times, so the tradition is just a part of his existence. Just as his name implies, Old Man Warner is always warning the town of the danger of doing away with the lottery.

It is very interesting to note that the black box, the ultimate symbol of doom, and the one thing that seems to represent the tradition of the lottery to the villagers, is given very little respect during the 364 days of the year that it is not needed. It is stored “sometimes one place, sometimes another” (406). This extremely important icon is treated with total disregard every day except June 27^th, when it is treated with reverence. Why doesn’t it have a permanent home throughout the year? Perhaps it is because doom is not relegated to one place and one time, but is everywhere and all the time if we are unfortunate enough to be in its way. Like the slips of paper, and the black spot that announces the “winner” of the lottery, life is a chance that can bring us good or bad tidings; it is luck of the draw.

For Tessie Hutchinson, who comes running into the square still wearing her apron, showing that she is just an everyday person doing everyday things, her luck is about to run out. As her family draws the unlucky slip of paper showing that one of her own will be stoned to death, she is visibly and vocally upset. Her husband seems to be upset by her reaction telling her to “shut up, Tessie” (409). She is upset and concerned for her family, he is just one of the crowd wanting to get it over with. Tessie’s luck has run out as it is determined that she is the one to be stoned to death, making her realize that being one of the sheep and blindly following tradition is wrong as she screams “it isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (411). It is too late for her, but what about the rest of the world?

As I Stand Here Ironing, question #3

The mother in this story believes that she has not given everything she could to her oldest child, as she was a child herself when Emily was born and was on her own as Emily's father was not around. She faces a lot of the same worries that single mothers today face. She had very few options for daycare and was forced to leave Emily with people who did not appreciate her as her mother did, and a nursery school that Emily had no desire to be left at. As a mother myself, it breaks your heart to leave your child someplace you know they don't like, but have no other options at the time. As this mother had more children, she worried that Emily wasn't getting the same degree of love from her as she gave the other children. One thing I didn't understand was why Emily had to go to a convalescent home, I feel the mother had a lot of grief over this decision. Facing some of the same challenges as this mother had, in my own life I can understand some of the decisions she made and definitely the feelings she had. It's hard raising children as a lone parent, you do what you have to do to make a life for your children and your hope that someday they will understand the choices you had to make. Who can say what a good mother is? Someone who gives their children everything they want, someone who does what needs to be done to survive, someone who loses themselves trying to make sure their child never hurts or needs anything? I think she did what was needed to survive and that in my eyes is a good mother.

I Stand Here Ironing

"I Stand Here Ironing" was written in the pre-relief of the depression. People are not living in the depression today but they do experience certain events taht the people experienced then. In this story a character, Emily, had a child at the age on 19. Still today people have children at such a young age as Emily did. Emily also had to leave her child with someone else to watch her because she had to work (284). People now days still have to leave their young children in the hands of others so they can work, many people do not want to leave there children with others when they are young but in order to work that is what they have to do. Some poeple have to leave there children at nurseries that don't care for there children, so to speak, because they can't afford better and so that they can keep there jobs, just as Emily's mother had to do. Emily was sent to a convalescent home where she could be take care of but when she got there she felt that they didn't want anybody to love anybody there (286). Today, some kids who are really sick due to illness may have to be sent to the hospital and be put in an isolation room. The nurses and doctors have to put a limit on the number of visitors to visit the child so the child does not become sicker by what the visitors bring in or so that they child does not make someone else sick. The child may not understand that it is for his/her safety that the visitors are limited and that the doctors don't want anyone to love anybody, just like Emily felt. Mothers have to work and the oldest child has to the be mother model just like Emily had to be for her mother. People also were poor during the depression and "couldn't afford for eash growth" (288), namy people are poor now and can't afford for "easy growth". It may not be as bad as it was during the depression but it could become that way easily.

"The Lottery"

The possible significance I find in the story are as follows: The village square symbolizes the central meeting place of the rituals or traditions, almost like in medieval movies where the king always addresses the people from the balcony of this castle. I think Mrs. Hutchinson's apron symbolizes her hard work as a mother and wife. Old Man Warner symbolizes one who has been involved in this ritual for a long time: "Seventy-seventh year I've been in the lottery" (409). Also, he is kind of the bad guy, he is against changing the tradition and thinks the idea of doing so is foolish: "Pack of crazy fools", "Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back and live in caves" (408). The slips of paper represent the process of the sacrifice, kind of like the grim reaper. The black spot symbolizes the choosing of who will be sacrificed.
The fact that it's summer symbolizes freedom for the kids from school, freedom for the cold of winter and just the plain understanding of 'summer romance.' The fact that the lottery is drawn in the summer is almost like it's the right time to do a sacrifice so that the rest of the people can enjoy their summer.
I think the names do have significance to the story, Summers, the fact that it's summer. graves, because you dig a grave for person to bury them. Adams, maybe because of Adam and Eve and the punishment for the sins. Delacroix, is a French originated name, could have something to do with the french/Indians and some rituals they did?
Really the only significant symbolic role I found for the kids in the story, is when they were playing around before the lottery started; they weren't apprehensive about it, it was just something they had grown up with and weren't upset by the thought of it.
I found that with Mr. Summers dressed in a clean white shirt and blue jeans, but I didn't find any significance to the way the people as a whole dressed. I found that the people were joking with each other and kind of making light of the situation. Such as when (when their name was called): "'Get up here, Bill,' Mrs. Hutchinson said, and the people near her laughed" (408).

I Stand Here Ironing

In the story "I Stand Here Ironing" I think that the mother believes that she has neglected to care for her daughter the way that she had cared for her other children. At the end of the story the mother says, "I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother. There were other children pushing up, demanding. Her younger sister seemed all that she was not. " (288-289) When I first read this story I did not like the mother because of the way that I felt she treated Emily, it seemed that she treated her different from the other children. When I look at the story closer I see that the mother did all that she could for Emily considering her circumstances when she had her. When Emily was born her father left her mother and the mother was forced to do any work she could find during the first six years of Emily's life (288). So now I would say that I do not think that Emily's mother did anything wrong considering her circumstances. I think that she has been as good of a mother that she could be. She was trying to raise Emily on her own during the Depression Era there were of course sacrifices that would need to be made. She took Emily to a daycare that she knew was bad but that was the only way that she could work and be with Emily at the same time (284). I realize that throughout the story the mother did not always seem to make the right decision regarding Emily's care but I think that she realized that at the end of the story and felt guilty for it.

I Stand Here Ironing

"I Stand Here Ironing" is a story that portrays a time in the depression era. When men and women got married back then and had kids it seems to be as if it was forced, or as if that is what the right thing to do was. The narrator or Emily's mom feels fuilt throughout most of the story. I believe the reason for this is because when Emily was a baby she was such a happy baby and as Emily grows, she becomes more of a isolated, sad child who rarely eats and has no good friends. I feel as if the mom thinks that she has never really been able to show Emily that she cares and that she does love her just the way she is. At one point in the story an old man gently states," You should smile at Emily more when you look at her." What was in my face when I looked at her? I loved her." (Olsen, p. 284) She seems to be very confused by this statement and almost apalled. I believe that she has been as best of a mom as she could be at the time. I think maybe she could have been a bit more supportive of her daughter instead of sending her off to some school to try to help her. You can tell though that she cares for her deeply and that as time goes on she tries to be a better mom. My favorite passage of this story is "Let her be. So all that is in her will not bloom--but in how many does it? There is still enough left to live by. Only help her to know---help make it so there is cause for her to know---that she is more than this dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron." (Olsen, p. 289) I believe what she meant by this is there is still time to grow and learn and sometimes children must do it on their own, but is Emily were to ever need help that she is there for her. She will not be ironing her dress on the board for her forever, she will let her be. ----Krista Eide

M State -

"The Storm" question 9

I really don't believe that anything, including a storm, justifies adultery. We are not sure why they do this, but you really can't believe that the storm caused it. The storm however does play a part with the emotions and the climax of the tale of the story.

I Stand Here Ironing

In the story "I Stand Here Ironing", written by Tillie Olsen, i feel the narrator believes somehow it is her fault that her daughter has problems. I'm sure she feels guilty because maybe if she had spent more time with her, hugging her, talking with her things may have turned out differently for her daughter.
I do feel that if the mother had spent time with her daughter she wouldn't have turned into herself, and so cold. The daughter was sent away, when if felt if the family had just given her the attention and love she so longed for she would have been fine. For example in the story it says, "There was a tiny girl who always stood hand in hand with Emily. Her parents never came. One visit she was gone. "They moved her to Rose Cottage," Emily shouted in explanation. "They don't like you to love anybody here." To me this little girl was craving love and affection.
Was Emily's mother a good mother? Yes, she did her best trying to raise her children without having much to give them. She never turned her back on them, devoted. She only did what other's told her, that her daughter needed help. There is no correct way of parenting, but we need to accept our children for who they are. We all have talent, maybe hidden just as Emily's mother saw in this story. She realizes this when she says, " She is so lovely". "She will find her way".(288).

The Storm

“The Storm,” written by Kate Chopin, is a clever title to express both the weather condition outside and the adultery taking place inside. The severe weather may play a part in why Calixta and Alcee choose to act out of character, but it certainly does not excuse their behavior. Calixta and Alcee have not seen each other since she married another man, but their passionate feelings towards one another can be seen instantly. They may blame the severe weather for their affair, but it does not make what they have done any less wrong. It is seeing each other after such a long time apart that rekindles their feelings, not the weather outside. Had Calixta’s husband and son been gone from home for any other reason they would have acted in the same way. What I find most disturbing about their behavior is how life goes back to normal as quickly as the storm passes. “He turned and smiled at her with a beaming face; and she lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud” (258). If the storm were the sole cause of the affair both Calixta and Alcee would have feelings of regret by the time the storm had passed, but this clearly is not the case.

The Storm

I think the two characters, Calixta and Alcee, who committed adultery have more feelings for each other then they realize. The storm could have brought the feelings to the surface but after there indiscretion they go back to their lives and loved ones as usual. I know sometimes when I look into my boyfriends eyes I melt but it only works with him. Being scared is no reason to betray your significant other; no reason is. I found her hypocritical of herself. She was so scared and worried about her husband Bobinot and son Bibi but she had sex with Alcee, who is not her husband.

I stand here Ironing

The events in the story “I Stand Here Ironing” could easily happen in today’s society. When the story started it was said that the mother had Emily during the depression. Today we are not in a depression but we are in a recession with many parents having to go to work and leave their child in day care services. Emily’s father had even walked out on her and her mother which happens a lot in society today. A lot of families do not have money which would help to prevent diseases just like in the story. In the story Emily was described as being “delirious with the fever that comes before red measles” (285). If the parent has more than one child at the time when one child gets sick with a disease she may have to depart herself from her sick child to take care of the others. If she exposed herself and her other children to the disease they could get it too. The mother in the story was very young when she had Emily as are a lot of mothers now-a-days. Parenting is a learning experience and it takes a while to figure out what you are doing. Many parents look back at their first child’s childhood and think that things could have been different if they only knew then what they know now. An example of this in the story was when the mother at the end of the story stated “I was a young mother, I was a distracted mother” (299) and “My wisdom came too late” (289). As teachers of students will tell you that your children need interaction with their parents. They need bonding time with their parents to help them to bloom. If a parent doesn’t have time for this because of having several children and having to work a child may lack developmentally and think less of themselves. Children still to this day get jealous of a sibling who they think gets more attention than they do. It is something that I think will always happen. An example of why Emily was jealous of Susan her younger sister in the text was “Susan, golden, and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in appearance and manner” (287). There will always be poverty, jealousy, and inexperience in the world.