Word count 385 Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing” is a Mother’s story of circumstance and regret. In the story the mother retells of her hardships and sacrifice that her family had to endure as a result of the economic climate during the 1930’s. To overcome this adversity Olsen must sacrifice the relationship and well being of her oldest daughter in order to make ends meet and provide for the rest of her family. The main character in the story is the Mother. The Mother is a static character who remains unchanged throughout the story.
Who are you? You think you’re so pretty,” is something that her mom would usually say to her. Connie’s mom wishes that she can be like her older sister June and be as responsible as her, but Connie wouldn’t ever listen to her mom and would just do what she wanted. One night, she went to the shopping strip with her best friend where she met a boy named Eddie and took off with him, leaving her best friend at the shopping plaza with other kids from their high school. While she was out with Eddie, Arnold Friend rode up next to Connie and Eddie at a stoplight and made a gesture symbolizing that Connie would soon be his, but as usual, she was completely oblivious to him.
As life in California became more difficult by the strikers for better working conditions and Ramona get sick with Valley Fever, Esperanza becomes responsible for her mother’s bills by taking on a job of her own and saving money to bring her loved Abuelita. Finally, when her grandmother joins them with the help of her friend, Miguel and her mother comes back. The whole family is complete and happier than ever. Esperanza means hope in English and though it all she learns to appreciate what is truly valuable in life. It is the value of family sharing happiness and kindness, to be happy without rich, money and never giving up.
Section 7 and 28 of the Alberta human rights act both stand to protect people in such positions as pregnancy from workplace discrimination. The owner was displaying discrimination because the sole purpose of Ms. Orth being eliminated from the job was because she was missing work due to her pregnancy. She her work ethics and attitude were generally good, she was not fired based on any kind of reprimandable acts from the day she first started her job on June 6, 1994. Due to the fact that Ms. Orth was now a noticeably pregnant woman, it made it impossible for her to find another workplace that would hire her. This was obviously harmful on her amount of income.
She goes on a life changing excursion to make sense of her difficult predicament. She matures and becomes the woman she is at the end of the novel through her relationship with T. Ray, experiences with racism, and internal struggles. Due to her loathsome relationship with her father T. Ray, the protagonist Lily drastically changed into a more independent and confident woman. Lily has finally built up the courage to leave her abusive father when she thought, "I knew exactly what I had to do-leave. I had to get away from T. Ray" (Kidd 41).
Her life was dependant on money from Angel, and she was deeply afraid of the day when the money would stop. The events that led Lou Ann and Turtle to be on their own brought them to Taylor, a young woman who befriends Lou Ann and adopts Turtle. Lou Ann was assisted by Taylor in her time of need. Taylor taught Lou Ann how to be self sufficient, and helped her to accomplish her goals. In turn, Lou Ann broke out of her shell, and walk by herself without someone else’s arm.
Den, Barbara’s awkward and shy ex-lover, reappears in her life and provides a route to wealth for Barbara (in her own eyes). Her dogged determination and persistence to better herself sees Den as a way of paying for a deportment diploma to assist her with gaining employment at the swanky new hotel being built in town. Due to the negative circumstances her character is placed in, it has resulted in her deserting her mentally challenged daughter, Verge. Economic rationalism seemed to have only negative implications on Barbara’s life as she constantly struggles with relationships and self worth. Whilst focusing on the central metaphor – ‘diving for pearls’ it is made clear that for Barbara, pearls are not represented through spiritual wealth, rather economic wealth.
Edie is a fifteen year old girl that did not fare very well in school, so her parents decided to take her out of school after she finished the last in the class. Edie went to for Dr. and Mrs. Pebbles where she took care of the two children and cared for the home and the cooking. The plot is the dynamic element in fiction, a sequence if interrelated, conflicting actions and events that typically build to a climax and bring about a resolution (Clugston, 2010). The plot in “How I Meet My Husband” is how a young innocent farm girl waiting for a gypsy pilot to write her a letter. She never hears from him again but still manages to find love while maturing and learning a life lesson.
The piece I performed was “Be my Baby” which is a play by Amanda Whittington written in 1997. Set in 1964 in St Saviours- A Church of England run mother and baby home, Be My Baby follows the fortunes of Mary Adams, aged 17 and seven months pregnant. Being brought to St Saviours, Mary and her fellow inmates have to cope with the shame of their pregnancy and the dawning realisation they must give up their baby for adoption. Yet despite the daily battles with a no-nonsense Matron, the girl's effervescence shines through. In this play all cast members are female; Mary, Mrs Adams (Mary’s mum), Matron, Dolores, Queenie and Norma.
Kristine Paulus Return Journey “A Worn Path” October 3, 2011 Phoenix continues on her footsteps with her cane on the narrow road ahead of her. She slowly wipes the tears from her aged eyes filled with joy and satisfaction. Then she looks at the medicine and says “oh child grandma is coming home, I’ll soon be there”. She looks up to the sky and say “thank you Lord for guiding my footsteps to get this medicine for my ill grandson”. “Tap tap tap” she repeats constantly as she heads south to her destination to the toy store.