Forms of Literature (Keating's Goodreads Discussion forum) discussion

I think what both stories share is that is based in the perspective of a mother. The feelings of trying to be fair with their daughters that can only be understood by a mother. In "I Stand Here Ironing" we can see the perspective of a mother that feel she was never good enough with her first daughter Emily. In contrast, "Everyday Use" have a focus on how a mother can make a preference. They both share how the first daughter has an "event" that changes their perspective. For example, Emily's event is when she had to live in the convalescent home. For Maggie was when she was burning inside her house. In the end, they both have a moment in which the daughter has an event in which she feels the relief from their obstacle. For Emily was her performance and for Maggie was to get the clothes from her grandmother. These stories reflect how difficult can be been a mother.

The two stories have a purpose of family experiences and values from a mother to her children. The two stories also talk about some of the events in the children's lives that made an impact to the mothers. The difference between the stories is that in the story "I stand here ironing" the mother talks about how her children were together and didn't acted against each other. In the story "Everyday use" the mother goes through arguments with her daughter and how she also acted against her sister. The similarities are that in the stories the mothers had trouble with their children as they grow. They struggled raising their children because at least one child had difficulty growing up in school and different events in their lives. The children have different behaviors and aspects, which made the mothers' work tougher. Both stories show the love and appreciation the mother had to her children and how they deal with their lives.

In the stories "Everyday use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" it talks about family but in two different views. In "I Stand Here Ironing" family values are important every single family member depends on one another and they love each other no matter what happens. For example even though Emily had more problems compared to her sister even though she was not as good or as smart as her they both still loved each other. Both complimented each other and they always stayed together even though the family was not as strong as the other ones. And in the "Everyday use" you get the feeling that the family bond is not there. Dee was embarrassed by her family she did not like the old house and it showed when the mother spoke of the burning of the house she said that Dee just stood there almost glad that the house burned down. It also said that Dee changed her name because she did not like it and she wanted to have a name she would be proud of. Both of the stories explain about the family I Stand here ironing says that family will always be there for you and to stay strong no matter what and in Everyday use it says that family are not strong and that some can even be embarrassed by them. I can relate to the family of I Stand Here Ironing because it really shows how close a family can be no matter whats going on in life it shows that family is always there even when you are ready to give up.

“Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are two narratives that touch on family values and the importance to be compacted with your relatives. Both of these stories are told in the perspective of the mother, the person best known as the stronghold within the family, dealing with the hardships of motherhood. While similar in message, the situations in which our narrators are thrown in are quite different with the mother from “I Stand Here Ironing” regretting for her absence of motherly nurturing for Emily, while the mother in “Everyday Use” breaks the forbidden rule of preference over her children. Similar in character structure, each mother have an older daughter that have their own “trait” that alters the perspective of the mother, causing the mothers to fault over their skills of being a mother. However, both stories have similar plot structure in the fact in which the daughters eventually overcoming over their struggles, almost feeling the emotion of praise radiating from the mothers through the author’s use of diction. With each story’s author conveying the importance of family values, even though every family has a dilemma of their own, that a family must always stay compacted and never be torn apart.

Both stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" both talk about families and how they're not perfect. Even though they don't stress that that's what they're talking about, that's what I understood. Both stories talk about how the choices of the children effected the mother but also how the mothers have different reactions. In the story "I Stand Here Ironing" we can see how the mother never feels good enough for her daughter. The daughter, Emily, growing up was sad, quiet and different from her sisters. As she grows up she finds that doing comedy really helps her feel alive and her attitude changes completely. In the story "Everyday Use" the Mom doesn't feel bad for her daughter, contrary she doesn't understand why her older daughter has to be so mean and different especially towards the younger troubled child Maggie. Towards the end of the story when the mother prefers to give the sentimental valued quilts to the younger daughter Maggie, this shows that the mother realized that Maggie deserved them more than the older daughter. The moral of these stories are is that at the end there is no such thing as a perfect Mom and how hard it is to try and be.

Israel wrote: "The two stories have a purpose of family experiences and values from a mother to her children. The two stories also talk about some of the events in the children's lives that made an impact to the ..."

I agree, there's no such thing as a perfect mom and trying to be the best mom you can be can be difficult and this story expresses that very well.

Andres wrote: "In the stories "Everyday use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" it talks about family but in two different views. In "I Stand Here Ironing" family values are important every single family member depends o..."

Yes, both stories speak about family but both of those families are very different. One family has a good bond while the other doesn't, but regard of that families still go through rough patches and the mom takes an important role when it comes to that.

Both narratives "I Stand Here Ironing" and "Everyday Use" were told from the point of view of a mother while telling us of the comflicts involved with the mother and her daughter(s).Furthermore, in the story "I Stand Here Ironing" told us of the struggles the narrator had within herself due to her inability to produce as much as she would've like to give her in terms of time as well as give her the best she would've liked to give Emily.In addition,in "Everyday Use" it tells us of how a mother struggles with her daughter Dee which is the older of two, due to her change in cultural values as well as personality in which she becomes a mean and greedy person due to the fact that she tries to strip her mother of all personal collectibles including those of her sister Maggie, but the narrator puts a stop which ends in giving us the interpretation that due to the change the mother likes Maggie better or has a better relationship with that daughter.Both narratives tell us a meaning to which I would interpret as a message that being a mother isnt easy and this is due to the conflict in which both narrators or the mothers struggled in both stories with their daughter.

Andres wrote: "In the stories "Everyday use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" it talks about family but in two different views. In "I Stand Here Ironing" family values are important every single family member depends o..."

I agree with you Andy that both stories had very different relationships. Also that mothership is an important role when It comes to family.

Emile wrote: "In the stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing", both are narrated by the mother. The main similarity in the stories is that the mothers try to be as fair as possible to their children. In..."

I agree Emile that both mothers tried to be fair among their daughters and have equality among them.In addition, I strongly agree that both stories had a message in which both narartors wanted the best for their children.

Family isn’t the people you choose to be around you, but they are the people you trust to support you during your development. The short stories “I Stand Here Ironing and “Everyday Use” both deal with mother-daughter relationships and the idea that a person’s fate is inevitable despite a parent’s expectations. In “I Stand Here Ironing”, Emily becomes a funny and gifted comedian much to the audience’s surprise after a rough and neglectful childhood. While this event becomes a positive twist in the story’s plot, that fills us with hope for a brighter future for Emily, it was an event out of her mother’s control. “Everyday Use” shows how education turned Dee into a woman who rejects her mother and all that she gave her. In this case, even with a mother’s presence in the household, it seems that family cannot explain why a person turns out the way they do. Although Emily and Dee are compared to their sister’s who are favored over the other, both of the mothers come to accept Emily and Dee for who have they become. Their support is what allows the family to stay connected together, with or without a strong physical presence, and not their influence as parents in the past.

The main similarity between "I stand here Ironing" and "Everyday Use" is that it is in the perspective of the mother. To add to that, each story had one sister who out shown the other. In "I Stand Here Ironing", Emily's sister took the spotlight, she was pretty and had a lot of characteristics that shadowed over Emily. In "Everyday Use", Dee was pretty, smart, and confident which are all characteristics that Maggie seemed to lack. In both stories, the mother comes to the conclusion that Emily and Maggie are just fine the way they are. The two store differ in a way that in "I Stand Here Ironing", the mother questioned herself throughout the story until coming to the conclusion that Emily turned out just fine, but in "Everyday Use", the mother never questions herself. She just acknowledges the fact that she is not good enough for her daughter Dee. In "I Stand Here Ironing", the mother appears to be closer to the daughter who outshines, but in "Everyday Use", it is the opposite.

Perla wrote: "I think what both stories share is that is based in the perspective of a mother. The feelings of trying to be fair with their daughters that can only be understood by a mother. In "I Stand Here Iro..."

I agree with your view. I like your point about both stories having an event that changes the mothers perspective. I did not see it that way before, but do now.

Emile wrote: "In the stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing", both are narrated by the mother. The main similarity in the stories is that the mothers try to be as fair as possible to their children. In..."

I like your perspective. I agree that in both stories, the mother is trying to be fair to both her daughters the best way that she can.

Walker and Olson, focus primarily on the relationshio between mother and daughter. "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Iroining" both focus on the mothers concerns about one of their daughters. Both stories are narrated by the mothers, so it only tells of the mothers point of view. The author is "I Stand Here Ironing" coneys how the mother has no control of how her daughter is raised and how she feels guilty for not doing in the right way. In "Everyday Use" the author portrays how traditions and education within the family cause conflict. The stories both take place in differne time periods which can be a reasoning for the differnce in family values. Family values in my opinion should be a priority, even though values are different from culture to culture and change overtime, there should be no effect on the relationship within the family. There will be times when not every individual in the family will agree with values, but as a family you learn to compromise so you reslove the conflict and not end up being apart like Dee and her mother.

The family values and unity is what keeps society adrift. Of course there are so many different kinds of people with different ethnic backgrounds, cultures and also forms of life that are the cause of different types of families. These examples can appreciate the stories of "Everyday use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" speaks of the family, but with different values. In "I Stand Here Ironing" this family is poor, mediocre or virtuous family values, but what can be regarded as a mediocre family value may seem wrong to someone else and vice versa. But in the end Emily ended up being the opposite of what was expected. In addition "Everyday use" to we can see how Dee has his mother his childhood but even so she ends up with bad behavior. In conclusion the two stories have many similarities. Since we can appreciate that in the end, the mothers who narrate the stories they end up having favoritism for one of his two daughters, although Emily and Dee had different values and types of lives to grow up.

The stories Everyday Use and I Stand Here Ironing both incorporate family values that can be applied in one’s own families. To start off, both stories are narrated by a maternal figure. In a sense, we can see that the maternal role is critical in each story to providing for the family and keeping it together. In I Stand Here Ironing, one can see that a mother’s jobs and roles cannot be overlooked; it seems that her primary goal is to provide for her family financially. Everyday Use gives us the sense that mothers must be not only compassionate but fair as well. However, in I Stand Here Ironing, the mother seems to focus more on supporting her family financially and seems to lack emotional depth and compassion. The mother from Everyday Use is similarly not wealthy like the other story’s mother, yet she exhibits a more compassionate image of a mother that focuses on the emotional needs of her children, as seen when she takes the quilts from Dee’s hands and gives them to Maggie.

These ideas relate to my own idea of family. I know with great understanding that my mother is an important figure in my family, and I personally feel she keeps us together and keeps life running smoothly. She is a hard worker like the mother from I Stand Here Ironing, yet her family is what she considers to be of upmost importance. She even told me, “You’re more important than my job.”

One of the main similarities of both stories , “Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing”, is that the perspective is from the mother’s but their views are different. In “Everyday Use” the family is just there with no emotional connection with each other, the mom and the two daughters. The main reason why there wasn’t an emotional connection is because of one of the daughters, Dee. She was glad that the house burned down because she was so embarrassed about that old house. But in “I Stand Here Ironing” there was a strong emotional connection throughout the story because the mother tries her best for her first daughter and sometimes the outcome isn’t the best. But at the end the mother and the two daughters that are important into story still love each other very much. Personally, i relate to “I Stand Here Ironing” because my family is just me and my parents and we are very close and loving to each other even if there are conflicts here and there, at the end of everything we love each other.

Li Yuen, I like the point you made that a parental figure cannot completely control the outcome of who their child becomes, and that it is parental support that allows children to succeed.

Julio, I agree with you that families each have their own unique dilemmas, yet the central theme of family and staying together is important and conveyed by both stories.

The stories, "I Stand Here Ironing" and, "Everyday Use" examine the relationships between a mother and a daughter. While in "Everyday Use", the daughter, Dee, is actually very fond of her families heritage, it seems that she isn't as connected to it as is her sister Maggie. Thus, we are given a slight indication that although Dee does have respect for her families heritage, she isn't as a part of it, saying that she will just hang the quilts and never use them, while Maggie would probably put them to everyday use. Furthermore, Dee goes on to tell her own mother she doesn't understand her heritage, as if she wasn't brought up the same way under the same culture. In comparison with, "I Stand Here Ironing", the mother's main focus was not to care for her daughter, but to keep her family alive and healthy by working. Thus, it conveys an emotional detachment between Emily and her mother. This detachment is caused by the mother's lack of presence in, "I Stand Here Ironing." While in, "Everyday Use", the detachment is formed by Dee herself, and her embarrassment of her family. The values are different from one another, as in I Stand Here Ironing's values are more economical, while Everyday Use's values are more about heritage.

In both stories: "I stand here ironing",and "Everyday use " the concept that both stories share is family values and support.
Some of the similarities from both stories are that for example in everyday use the mother is the one that always gives everything she can to see her family success. As mentioned she does not know how to read,she was part of the traditional black community,and that she raised money to send one of her daughter's to school. In the other story "I stand here ironing" the mother also wants her children to success,she works everyday to give them what they need, she gives away her "freedom"in able to let her family have all she never had.
Both stories share a very strong concept,mothers will always give their all for thei children to shine, no matter what.
But as well each story shows a different views of a family and how they interact.
For example in "Everyday use"both sisters do not share a good connection, they are completely different and one of them staund out physically and even shows her mental abilities, something her sister was not as lucky to obtain. Even tho both sisters are different and probably not inseparable the other sister has a very special virtue, which is knowing her roots and identity, something her sister lost in the way.
In the story "I stand here ironing " both sisters are completely connected abd complement eachother, even though they have some physical differences,they suppor eachother and strive for success.
From both stories i relate more to the family from "I stand here ironing" because i do believe that even though family members have differences or unique qualities, a family should always support eachother, have a strong connection and immense love to overcome any obstacle.

I agree with you Andres, thst both stories show how the ocupation of being a mother is not easy. It takes time,love,and a strong economic support to raise a family. Both stories share the same concept and its well developed throughout the stories

I agree with you Julio, that in both stories theres a different connection between the parents and children.
That for example in "I stand here ironing " the mother is mostly absent because she works daily and wants her children to have everything they need. And that in "Everyday use"the mother is always present, she teacher her daughter's the importance of knowing about their culture and different values. This is one of the biggest differences between stories.

"Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" both present unique family values. In both stories, the points of view are told by mothers and from this, we can get a point of view that truly understands the meaning of the word "family". In addition, Maggie and Emily are both lacking when it comes to meeting society's beauty standards. The mothers aren't oblivious to this fact, but they still love their daughter's and believe that their weaknesses make them strong.

When it comes to differences, the two stories differ in the sense of how family values are expressed. In "I Stand Here Ironing" the mother regrets not being able to spend as much time with Emily as she should have, and we can see that the mother believes that emotional bonding is what makes a family a family. The narrator from Everyday Use, on the other hand, believes that family values come in materialistic symbols that represent heritage. The quilts, for example, represent the Johnson family line in the story.

When it comes to my beliefs on the meaning of family, I would say that my belief is related closely to that of the narrator from "I Stand Here Ironing". I believe that a family is based on interpersonal relationships rather than blood.

Li-Yuen wrote: "Family isn’t the people you choose to be around you, but they are the people you trust to support you during your development. The short stories “I Stand Here Ironing and “Everyday Use” both deal w..."

I completely agree with you Li-Yuen that family is based on support from others. Also, I agree with your idea that family doesn't make you into a specific person.

Julio wrote: "“Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are two narratives that touch on family values and the importance to be compacted with your relatives. Both of these stories are told in the perspective of..."

I agree with you Julio in the idea that the mother is usually the head of the family due to responsibility and understanding. Also, the I agree with your idea that both mothers had to break the rules of a "mother" in order to be a mother

In “Everyday Use” and "I Stand Here Ironing," both are told by the prospective of the mothers. “Everyday Use,” the mother focuses on Maggie's and Dee’s well being, while the mother family values in "I Stand Here Ironing" are to provide for her children financially. Although Emily’s mother wanted to be their for her daughter like the mother in “everyday Use,” she couldn’t. The mother in “Everyday Use” is physically and emotionally more involved in her children's life compared to Emily’s mom. Both these stories are similar in which the mothers are the only ones that are providing or emotionally there for their daughters.

These ideas in these stories are like my idea of "family". A mother that works hard like Emily’s mother in "I Stand Here Ironing," she reminds me of my mom because like Emily’s mom, my mom works very hard to provide for us while working on getting a better education. These ideas are what make a family, working together to help each other when others can’t be their. Like Emily works with her mom “to help be a mother, and housekeeper, and shopper” for her siblings.

In both stories the value of family is the most important thing. The responsibilities of a mother are hard since they are the ones that have to take care for the most part of their children. In "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing", their are two different ways how mothers have to go through in order to maintain a family. Both mother encounter difficulties on helping their children. Raising kids it is not an easy task, specially if you do not have the resources to meet their necessities. In both stories the mother have to choose between their children making them seem like they have a favorite. Mother would always try to please each and everyone of their children no matter what the situation is.

In both of the stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" they are based on the mother’s perspective. They both talk how they feel about their daughter and how they see that they haven’t done that well with that one daughter that does values them for whom they are or that feel that they needed to do much more. In “I Stand Here Ironing” the mother felt that she was not a great mother to Emily for making her to deal with all the changes that she had to go through . Although Emily sister was beautiful and way opposite of her(skinny ,not well looking ) she always knew that her mother loved her no matter what. As “Everyday Use” they point out that the mother has been always there for both but not much to Maggie . Maggie has a different way of life than Dee she has been physically marked by a house burn that would always be with her but no a educated or smart person “ I can still hear the flames and feel Maggie's arms sticking to me, her hair smoking and her dress falling off her in little black papery flakes. Her eyes seemed stretched open, blazed open by the flames reflected in them“. Instead Dee is a well educated woman but lacks to give that emotional affection to the mother "On TV mother and child embrace and smile into each other's faces. Sometimes the mother and father weep, the child wraps them in her arms and leans across the table to tell how she would not have made it without their help". Both stories show how even though their mother weren’t that much there for them they still appreciate everything that their mothers gave to Emily and Maggie on their own way of being. What does change on both is that in “Everyday Use” they mentioned that Dee changes her own heritage and forget whom she is and become the antagonist of the story, than “I Stand Here Ironing” both daughters become their own way and don’t become ungrateful of what their mother do to support them. My own idea of family is being a united and supportive way of helping each other in thick and thin times , that no matter what we go through the ones that would always be there for us is our family because they care and worry for us.

Eliana wrote: "In both stories: "I stand here ironing",and "Everyday use " the concept that both stories share is family values and support.
Some of the similarities from both stories are that for example in eve..."

I agree with you Eliana, that in both stories the mothers provide the very best they can for their children and I also agree with your statement that the sister in everyday use are different, like maggie knowing her roots and dee shows her mental ability resulting them to not connect.

Mauricio wrote: ""Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" both present unique family values. In both stories, the points of view are told by mothers and from this, we can get a point of view that truly understands..."

I agree with you Mauricio, that in "I Stand Here Ironing" Emily's mother thinks emotional bonding is what makes a family.I also agree with your other point that in "Everyday Use" the mother thinks, things like a quilt are what bonds a family.

In the stories “Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are narratives stories told by the mother and pointing out general ideas of the family, but in two different perspectives. Both stories have something in common, but also In “I Stand Here Ironing”, the mother talks about Emily’s accomplishment and how she missed out on every single one of them. For example, when Emily wins the prize for her charisma, the mother stated that “now suddenly she was somebody, and as imprisoned in her difference as in anonymity.” In the story “Everyday Use”, the mother explains how Dee (Wangero) wants everything her way. This is usually the case for those children that want the attention from anyone, and just for them. For example, when Wangero wants her grandmother’s quilt, the mother tells her to grab other two because the original quilt is Maggie’s. When the mother tells this to Wangero, she is hurts and leaves her house with her boyfriend. A similarity that both stories have is that both mothers want the best for their family, just like a family outside of a story. In my opinion, my idea of a “family” is that everyone supports each other in any situation, and like any other family there will always be fighting within siblings which is an example of bonding.

Both stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" demonstrate the value of family and how important family is in times of need. For example, in "I Stand Here Ironing" the mother, the narrator, explains how she has to work 2 jobs in order to sustain her family since her husband left them. She also explained how she had to leave her daughter with a neighbor most of the time since she was working a lot. Her daughter started to act differently than other kids, like she started to be depressed and felt like she wasn't loved. In this case, the mother wasn't using her time wisely to spend some time with her daughters. In addition, in "Everyday Use" when Dee comes home with her boyfriend and wants to take her grandmother's quilts and artifacts her younger sister, Maggie, gets upset because she was supposed to keep them. Maggie's mother later on noticed that Dee or also known as, Wangero, just wanted the quilts just cause and not to keep the family heritage going unlike Maggie who did value her heritage. Both of these stories demonstrate how valuable family is and how if the family is compact and united not only will it be a healthy family but the values and customs of that family will be strong and most likely passed on to future generations.

Eunice wrote: "In “Everyday Use” and "I Stand Here Ironing," both are told by the prospective of the mothers. “Everyday Use,” the mother focuses on Maggie's and Dee’s well being, while the mother family values in..."

I agree with you, Eunice, in the fact that both stories show perspectives of the mothers and not the fathers.

Julio wrote: "“Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are two narratives that touch on family values and the importance to be compacted with your relatives. Both of these stories are told in the perspective of..."

I agree with you, Julio, in that fall families should be united and compacted to be able to overcome any obstacle.

Emile wrote: "In the stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing", both are narrated by the mother. The main similarity in the stories is that the mothers try to be as fair as possible to their children. In..."

I agree with you. I think these stories help the reader understand a mother perspective of life. I think the mother in I Stand Here Ironing had no choice between her daughters because her life was different for her when she had the children. In contrast, the mother of Everyday Use always have the possibility to be fair with both daughters.

Andres wrote: "In the stories "Everyday use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" it talks about family but in two different views. In "I Stand Here Ironing" family values are important every single family member depends o..."

I agree with your point of view. I have not realized how these two stories have a big contrast based in family relationships. I also think that "I stand here ironing" can be an example of the different problems that a family had during the great depression.

Perla wrote: "I think what both stories share is that is based in the perspective of a mother. The feelings of trying to be fair with their daughters that can only be understood by a mother. In "I Stand Here Iro..."
I agree with you Perla, about how both stories focus on the mothers perspective.How both stories deal with certain obstacles and see to do fine with becoming and valuing their mothers sacrifices of becoming them better persons.

Israel wrote: "The two stories have a purpose of family experiences and values from a mother to her children. The two stories also talk about some of the events in the children's lives that made an impact to the ..."
I agree with you Ismael, how both stories deal with the family aspect but also how there children made a change in their mothers life.Although at the end Emily and Maggie appreciate all what their mothers have give them on their own way of living.

Marco wrote: "The stories, "I Stand Here Ironing" and, "Everyday Use" examine the relationships between a mother and a daughter. While in "Everyday Use", the daughter, Dee, is actually very fond of her families ..."

Marco, I agree with you that in the story "Everyday Use", Dee feels that her mother doesn't understand her because of her heritage.

Both stories are centered around the value of family and the importance of family bonding. For instance, both stories are told from the mother's perspective. One of the things that both stories share, is that at the mists of difficulty, the role of a mother always holds a family together. For example, in "I Stand Here Ironing," the mother who narrates the story, tells of her issues raising Emily, and constantly having to neglect her emotional needs in order to prioritize for her physiological ones. Nonetheless attempting to give her children the best, as is the narrator from "Everyday use." Although both mothers handle their roles differently their goals are the same, to provide for their children in the way they think is best.

Moreover, their differences lay in the value they place upon materialistic and sentimental things. Perhaps, the way in which the mother from "Everyday use," places the quilts up high as something that defines her culture is different from the way in which Emily's mother in "I stand here ironing" defines things of value.

To me family are the people who stick by you, and like in "I stand here ironing," I think that material things are not always what define a family or heritage, but rather the emotional support that family provides.

Jennifer wrote: "Both stories are centered around the value of family and the importance of family bonding. For instance, both stories are told from the mother's perspective. One of the things that both stories sha..."


I agree with you Jennifer that both mother's have different views upon materialistic and sentimental things. This is a way on how their family is "built".

The term “Negro” had been recently removed from the vocabulary, and had been replaced with “Black.” There was “Black Power,” “Black Nationalism,” and “Black Pride.” Many blacks wanted to rediscover their African roots, and were ready to reject and deny their American heritage, which was filled with stories of pain and injustice. In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker argues that an African-American is both African and American, and to deny the American side of one’s heritage is disrespectful of one’s ancestors and, consequently, harmful to one’s self. She uses the principal characters of Mama, Dee, and Maggie to clarify this theme. Therefore, their family was not the only one to struggle. In "I Stand Here Ironing" as every parent knows how difficult it is to make decisions in the best interest of their children. There is always some doubt in the back of the mind, what if this happens or that happens. Tillie Olsen shows in her story “I Stand Here Ironing” the conflict and the results of one mother’s decisions. She illustrates the back, forth motion of the iron as the back and forth doubts in the mother’s mind. The detachment between mother and daughter in “I Stand Here Ironing” is understandable. The mother struggles daily with the decisions she made while her oldest child Emily was a young baby and toddler. Obstacles in Emily’s life have made it hard for her mother to forget these decisions, and life with Emily only reinforces these decisions. Furthermore, both stories have an odd difference between them.
The short stories, “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker reveal the importance of family by exploring their hardships and heritage. The authors supply various symbols to support their ideas of family; however, Walker and Olsen convey the meaning of family using different symbols, which as a result, produce different meanings. They incorporate and connect symbols in their stories to perpetuate the emotions of its’ characters. The iron, quilt, clock, and house all represent symbolic articles, which draw parallels and distinctions between the two short stories.

Julio wrote: "“Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are two narratives that touch on family values and the importance to be compacted with your relatives. Both of these stories are told in the perspective of..."
Julio they way you structured your essay was very organized with comparing and contrasting both stories. Along with your essay all the details you input from the short story backed up everything your reasons.

Jesus wrote: "Both stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing" demonstrate the value of family and how important family is in times of need. For example, in "I Stand Here Ironing" the mother, the narrator,..."
Along with family values each mother had to endure heart-ache because they struggles with their daughters issues.

Jennifer wrote: "Both stories are centered around the value of family and the importance of family bonding. For instance, both stories are told from the mother's perspective. One of the things that both stories sha..."

I agree with you in the fact that in "Everyday Use" the materialistic things held much sentimental value. In my family, there are several treasured objects, but none that surpass the love of a person.

Wendy wrote: "In the stories “Everyday Use” and “I Stand Here Ironing” are narratives stories told by the mother and pointing out general ideas of the family, but in two different perspectives. Both stories have..."

I agree with you that families do often fight amongst each other and are the cause to a lot of problems. I think that although the problems in each of the stories pushed daughters away from their mothers, the children were able to grow and develop in their own way-aside from their parent's expectations.

Emile wrote: "In the stories "Everyday Use" and "I Stand Here Ironing", both are narrated by the mother. The main similarity in the stories is that the mothers try to be as fair as possible to their children. In..." I agree with this because it does show the Point of View of the mother while keeping a fair view on the children

Jennifer wrote: "Both stories are centered around the value of family and the importance of family bonding. For instance, both stories are told from the mother's perspective. One of the things that both stories sha..." I agree with Jennifer that
both the mothers are facing a different problem and that sets the tone for the story.