I Stand Here Ironing Analysis - Freshmen English Essay...

Short Story Essay There were three things that affected the overall mood of the short story I Stand Here Ironing. The choice of perspective, which was first person, played a major factor. The mood was also influenced by various methods of characterization used by Olsen in the story. The last thing that affected the mood was different stereotypes that were incorporated into the story. The overall mood of the story was remorseful. The perspective greatly impacted the mood throughout the course of the story. Most of the story happened in the mother’s mind. Even though this doesn’t actually affect the mood of the story, the story would have never made sense without a first person perspective. Also, you can tell her emotions when she has†¦show more content†¦The last thing that played a major factor in determining the mood of this story was all the different stereotypes weaved into the story-line. One stereotype was that the mother was the typical â€Å"young moth er†, always listening to exactly what the books say. â€Å"Though her cries battered me to trembling and my breast ached with swollenness, I waited till the clock decreed† (Olsen 210). When the mother was with the other children, she waited until she thought it was long enough, not just going by the book. She also let other people talk her into making bad decisions for Emily. â€Å"They persuaded me at the clinic to send her away to a convalescent home in the country† (Olsen 212). Also, as the family grew, Emily had to help more and more. â€Å"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† (Olsen 214). As the mother had more children, she grew wiser. â€Å"She kept too much in herself; her life has been such she had to keep too much in herself. My wisdom came too late† (Olsen 215). As for Emily, she was the complete opposite of the stereotype that all girls a t that time should be â€Å"a chubby blonde replica of Shirley Temple† (Olsen 213). The mother never comforted her about this and wished that she had. This is how stereotypes influenced the mood of the story. I Stand Here Ironing had a very remorseful mood. The mother was inexperienced and often put Emily in situations that she shouldn’t