Tillie Olsen's, "iIStand Here Ironing", Maternal Apathy at Its Best
Summary:
In Tillie Olsen's, "I Stand Here Ironing", Maternal Apathy at Its Best, maternal apathy is indeed portrayed at its best. The guilt harbored by Emily's mother in regard to decisions, she felt had to be made, served to distant herself from her daughter.
From the beginning of time itself the battle between mother and daughter has existed. In Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing," the battle between mother and daughter is not the "norm." It's actually maternal apathy at its best. Olsen's character, Emily, is developed through her mother's regrets regarding Emily's upbringing, her strained relationship with her younger, more self-assured sister, and the distant relationship she shares with her mother.
Emily's mother regretted much about Emily's upbringing. Emily's father deserted the family leaving Emily's mother to provide for them both. In the statement, ."..for Emily's father, who could "no longer endure" (he wrote in his goodbye note) "sharing want with us"; Olsen suggests there was a "suffering" on the fathers part. Shortly after her father left Emily's mother was forced to send away due to poverty and insufficient child care. This was the first indication of Emily's mother guilt as she stated in the story ."..but it came to where I had to bring her to his family and leave her." In this statement the word had suggests there was no other solution and as if Emily's mother was validating the decision.
As young girl, Emily was constantly in her sister's shadow. Emily was considered homely, while her sister just the opposite. Susan, Emily's sister, was everything Emily was not but desired to be. Olsen made that apparently clear by Susan's description ."..Susan golden-and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in appearance and manner Emily was not..." As a result of playing "second fiddle" to Susan, Emily became shy and passive. Olsen illustrates this by setting the scene of Susan telling jokes for attention and applause; "Susan telling jokes and riddles to company for applause while Emily sat silent (to say to me later: that was my riddle, Mother, I told it to Susan);"
Emily's mother felt emotionally unattached to her. This was made evident when Emily's mother was bothered by the idea of being asked to help someone understand her daughter. "You think because I am her mother I have a key, or that in some way you could use me as a key? She has lived for nineteen years. There is all that life that has happened..." Emily's mother felt she did not know her daughter well enough to help. Emily's mother's guilt and resentment of her upbringing had built a wall to isolate them both from one another.
In conclusion, maternal apathy is portrayed at its best. The guilt harbored by Emily's mother in regard to decisions, she felt had to be made, served to distant herself from her daughter. While one daughter excelled physically and socially the other was left behind. Finally the emotionally attachment mother refuses to help when help is truly needed and maternal apathy is made clear and plain.
This is the complete article, containing 465 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
