Symbolism puts pressure on this concept. On the one hand, the movement of iron embodies the changes that occur over time. In a way, Emily's mother is trying to iron out the wrinkles, and in doing so, the audience focuses on each one – the wrinkles of time. Change, responsibilities, and distractions come together in the symbol of ironing to describe Emily's mother's environment and the effect it has on her ability to be a good mother. The ambiguous “they” both offers advice to Emily’s mother and personifies a cultural expectation. Expectations are the determinants of actions. Additionally, during Emily's childhood, the many strangers involved in her life inform her that her actions are powerless in the face of her environment, so she learns to be powerless. In conclusion, Emily's mother describes Emily as "a child of her age, of depression, of war, of fear" (Olsen 10). The symbols of “I Stand Here Ironing” illuminate the environment of the Great Depression and World War II; the environment determines the choices of Emily's mother and has a determining effect on