The Bright Side of Regret Essay -- Literary Analysis

There is no person so severely punished, as those who subject themselves to the whip of their own remorse, wisely summates Lucius Annaeus Seneca 1st century papistic philosopher (qtd. in ThinkExist.com Quotations). Effectively illustrating this idea as a concise confessional, the goldbrick story, I Stand Here Ironing, is written in an autobiographical smell by Tillie Olsen, contrasting the festering damage that unresolved internal remorse creates with the reassuring serenity that unconditional acceptance generates. Regretfully, this stark reality ofttimes becomes the harrowing plight of the nescient parent. That having been said, taking a closer look into Olsens story will undeniably prove that a irrelevant introspective battle between regret and contentment can provided be resolved through the emancipation of unconditional acceptance. When experiencing regret, a person has the tendency to repeatedly replay the details of whatever caused that emotion. However, recounting one time(prenominal) events is only the first step in the better process, but it is non the end solution. This is abundantly evident in Olsens story which begins with the tellers rapid emotional descent into regret. This happens when, as she has probably do a thousand times before, an unnamed third party questions the contract about her eldest daughter, Emily, asking how they can help and understand her infract (Olsen 607), for surely she would know. Unfortunately, the answer to this request sends the mother helplessly down computer memory lane into regret valley. With Olsens strong symbolism, the reader becomes more keenly aware of the inner torment she feels while reminiscing about her callow system of raising Emily. Consequently, as the mother moves back and forth emotionally, ... ...ot have to automatically mean something negative. Therefore, though deep emotions are involved in the healing process, we now know love and acceptance, not guilt and sadness releases us from was ting precious energy on negative thinking and opens up a completely new opportunity, being able to enjoy the superb side of regret. Works Cited PageKathryn Schulz. Dont Regret Regret. 2011. Video. TED Conferences, LLC, New York. Web. 24 Apr 2012. http//www.ted.com/ duologue/lang/en/kathryn_schulz_don_t_regret_regret.html Olsen, Tillie. I Stand Here Ironing. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. eleventh ed. New York Longman, 2011. 607-612. Print.ThinkExist.com Quotations. Seneca quotes. ThinkExist.com Quotations Online. 1 Mar. 2012. Web 23 Apr. 2012. http//en.thinkexist.com/quotes/seneca/