Tillie Olsen writes the story "I Stand Here Ironing" in a narrative format. She reveals her life's story and relationships with her children, especially her first born child, Emily, as if she was reading a biography of someone other than herself. The style of the story likens itself to the title by building up over the course of their life's events. Tillie Olsen's first sentence, "and what you asked me moves tormented back and forth with the iron" demonstrates that style.

The short story begins at Emily's birth and goes through to college. The author frequently speaks of Emily in the third person, and because of the detachment if reveals it makes the audience more sympathetic to the young girl. The author continues to make excuses as to why Emily is a bit of an odd, needy child and that she alone was not the reason why Emily...