Is Self Love Enough Love?

      In "I Stand Here Ironing" we receive a narration of the life of Emily; the first born daughter of our narrator. The point of the story comes in the last line which states, "she is more than this dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron" (127).  Clearly this metaphor is stating how as a person Emily is not one to be told what to do. She is her own woman and does not have to submit to the demands and whims of society like a dress does to an iron. So this clearly preaches a story of how we must love ourselves in order to have happiness in life. However, at one point in the story we are exposed to Emily's happiness resulting from the approval of other people. Perhaps we say "love yourself first" just to be sweet and boost self-esteem. Maybe it is others love we require to be happy.

      Emily's life is spiraling out of control. She is not losing it or going crazy by any means. She is still very sweet to her Momma and never rebellious. However, she won't eat, she is a slow-learner, she does not have many friends or best friends at that. Her younger sister, Susan, appears to have stepped into the lime-light and take all the attention. Susan is the perfect social child and Emily is just a face in the background that can't do anything right. Until one day she enters the talent show. She does spectacular and the crowd applauds and lauds her fine work. At this moment we find that Emily's life is turning around and she is happier than ever. It was not a large epiphany that she needs to love herself, it was not some groundbreaking speech from a loved one that opened her eyes, it was the satisfaction of being praised by complete strangers. So the point of the story is trying to say be independent and do what you do best. But is that true? In Emily's life she seemed most joyful when she was able to preform and receive positive responses from the audience. Her life was full of jealousy, illness, and being a social pariah until that moment at the talent show. I believe Emily is more than happy to have the iron pressed on her, telling her what to do.