Question

In a well-developed paragraph, discuss how you think "I Stand Here Ironing" would have been different if the author had told it from a different point of view. Choose either Emily’s or the teacher’s point of view and discuss at least three possible ways the story would change, using specific examples from the story to support your answer.

Answer 1

If the story was told from Emily’s point of view the story would change drastically. For example, if the story was told from Emily’s point of view the readers would be able to tell how Emily felt about the convalescent home she was sent to. The reader would be able to see how the place looked like or how her peers treated her. Throughout her years in the convalescent home, the reader could have a better understanding of how Emily changed and what caused her to change. From the mother’s point of view, the reader can only go along with how she describes Emily’s mental health. Reading from the mother’s point of view the reader doesn’t know why Emily is depressed and can only assume, however, if Emily was telling the story the reader would know why Emily was depressed. The reader would know how she felt about Susan telling her jokes to her mother and step-father. Her thoughts about her step-father would also be told to the reader.

Answer 2

Answer: Based on the information that Tillie Olsen provides, a case can be made to consider the narrator of “I Stand Here Ironing” reliable or unreliable. Because the mother is a first-person narrator, there is a greater possibility that she is unreliable. ... Overall, the narrator seems to be reliable.

Explanation: i think