In Tillie Olsen’s I Stand Here Ironing, Emily is the narrator’s character of focus. The narrator is clearly her mother who has been left by Emily’s father when Emily was less than one year old. Emily was born a beautiful baby during the Great Depression. The coming years will seem to take their toll on both Emily and her mother, who has to leave her daughter in unfortunate situations, so that she may find work. Throughout her childhood, Emily is sickly in appearance and seems a very depressed individual. What little food is available to eat is unappealing to Emily, so she seems to find comfort and solitude in what now days may be referred to as