I Stand Here Ironing
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Poverty, Labor, and Domestic Life Female Identity Time Obedience vs. Self-Expression Responsibility and Guilt
Quotes
Characters
All Characters The Narrator Emily Susan Ronnie
Symbols
All Symbols The Iron Clocks
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I Stand Here Ironing

by

Tillie Olsen
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Susan Character Analysis

Susan is Emily’s younger sister and the second child of the narrator. Susan is a few years younger than Emily and is described as beautiful, confident, and clever. The narrator suggests that Susan had an easy childhood compared to Emily’s and does not struggle socially or academically. As a child, Susan was often in conflict with Emily, who resented her beauty and quick wit. The narrator also notes that Susan was drawn to Emily’s prized possessions and often broke or lost them accidentally.

Susan Quotes in I Stand Here Ironing

The I Stand Here Ironing quotes below are all either spoken by Susan or refer to Susan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Poverty, Labor, and Domestic Life Theme Icon
).
I Stand Here Ironing Quotes

Oh there are conflicts between the others too, each one human, needing, demanding, hurting, taking—but only between Emily and Susan, no, Emily toward Susan that corroding resentment. It seems so obvious on the surface, yet it is not obvious. Susan, the second child, Susan, golden- and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in manner and appearance that Emily was not.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Emily, Susan
Female Identity Theme Icon
Responsibility and Guilt Theme Icon
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
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Susan Quotes in I Stand Here Ironing

The I Stand Here Ironing quotes below are all either spoken by Susan or refer to Susan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Poverty, Labor, and Domestic Life Theme Icon
).
I Stand Here Ironing Quotes

Oh there are conflicts between the others too, each one human, needing, demanding, hurting, taking—but only between Emily and Susan, no, Emily toward Susan that corroding resentment. It seems so obvious on the surface, yet it is not obvious. Susan, the second child, Susan, golden- and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in manner and appearance that Emily was not.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Emily, Susan
Female Identity Theme Icon
Responsibility and Guilt Theme Icon
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
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