I Stand Here Ironing Language and Communication Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)

Quote #4

You must have seen it in her pantomimes, you spoke of her rare gift for comedy on the stage that rouses a laughter out of the audience so dear they applaud and applaud and do not want to let her go. (19)

Here we see Emily as a nineteen-year-old with a gift for comedy that seems to come out of nowhere. Compare the audience's reaction to her with her mother's in the previous quote, or the following.

Quote #5

"The clock talked loud. I threw it away, it scared me when it talked." (22)

Emily never directly tells her parents how she feels. Even as a young girl, she seems to be extraordinarily sensitive to her parents' situation, particularly her mother's.

Quote #6

She wrote once a week, the labored writing of a seven-year-old. "I am fine. How is the baby. If I write my leter nicly I will have a star. Lov e." There never was a star. (30)

At the charitable convalescent home for children, all communications with parents are censored, as if there is something dangerous about communication between parents and children, particularly if they are working class.