I Stand Here Ironing Essay

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Actions shape the future and will always leave a mark, no matter how little. Using the text “Memory” by Elizabeth A. Kensinger and the text “I Stand here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen, the idea effect of memories will be answered. To be more specific the idea of memory trade-off from “Memory” and the mother from “I Stand Here Ironing” will be used. Furthermore, past memories do shape us in the future because past actions are like scars, they will not go away, they either make us or break us. In the text “Memory” by Elizabeth A. Kensinger, it explains about memory trade-off. It explains how memories are never complete, and that our brain is wired to remember certain things and not others, the main cause 0f this is our emotions. Emotions can change how we perceive or feel about a certain memory. In the text “Memory” the narrator explains how emotional items could lead to something called memory trade-offs, an example being, “In fact, their memory for the forest is worse if they saw an emotional item, such as a snake than if they saw a neutral item, such as a squirrel in the forest,” (Kensinger 1-2). With this piece of evidence given, the narrator explains how our emotions can really affect the outcome of how memories are perceived. If an emotional item is placed in a specific …show more content…
Throughout the text, she makes a great amount of effort to try and fix her past mistakes. The real question is, is it too late? Past mistakes can never really be forgotten, no matter how much is done, evidence from the text that shows this is, “Aren’t you ever going to finish ironing, Mother.” (Olsen 6). With this piece of evidence provided, it can be inferred that the mother is always constantly ironing. The constant ironing symbolizes that the mother is trying to fix the mistakes from the past, but actions are like scars. They cannot just go away or be forgotten, they will always be
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