“I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen is a first-person story that follows the narrator's daughter from birth through the most important moments in her life Daughter. The narrator feels like she hasn't been involved in her daughter's life as much as she should have. His daughter, Emily, was a shy girl who seemed to often be overlooked. With Emily's family growing up in poverty and without a father figure, the narrator should have always been there for her, which is why the narrator is sorry that he did not show the love that he felt Emily needed. Emily has one of the most difficult lives a child can have as she practically grows up alone. Olsen used figurative language in her story to show the mother-daughter relationship in more depth. He used symbolism and repetition to deeply portray the relationship between the narrator and his daughter. The figurative language in “I Stand Here Ironing” was the best way to reflect the bond between mother and daughter as it highlights the flaws and regrets the narrator has for neglecting his daughter. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The symbolism of iron highlights the abandonment between the narrator and his daughter because it shows the constant work that has created a barrier between the two. The narrator describes her home life by saying, "There was so little time left at night after the children were in bed... I would iron, or prepare food for the next day, or write a letter to Bill, or take care of the child." ”. He has so much to do as the hours in the day are limited and they are all consumed by work, whether it is his job or household chores. Ironing and other household chores are a symbol of their poor connection as she has to do her job as a mother and an employee while bouncing between being a parent. She has to do a significant amount of work just to make sure her family survives while she sacrifices herself while showing the necessary affection for her daughter while doing so. The narrator loves her son, but cannot show it, which creates little bonding between her and Emily. This is ironic because while she cares for her son and performs her maternal duties, she also distances herself from her son. She isn't really involved in Emily's life, although she does care for her daughter at the same time. The iron moving back and forth while in use further symbolizes the narrator's bond with his children as he must constantly go back and forth between his work and his children. This is unhealthy as a child should have a parental figure there for most of their young life. This shows a conflict in the relationship between the caregiver and the child as a child only needs the presence of his parents. Children need to feel wanted but the narrator cannot satisfy this need, leading to an unhealthy relationship between mother and child. Even though Emily's mom is working long hours to support and care for her son, she is not doing the most important job as a parent which is being there for her physically and emotionally. Emily's balcony symbolizes her emotional distance with her mother while they are not yet able to have that personal connection that a child desires. Emily is diagnosed with tuberculosis and is sent away by her mother to recover. The narrator is only allowed to visit Emily on Sundays, making his presence in Emily's life even less than before. Every Sunday Emily stands on the balcony of her little house and has to shout for her mother to talk to her. Physical distance,.