Sally Smith
Honors English Language Arts 9
Entrance Exam
Part III: Writing
A: The quote “These hands spoke of the stubbornness of mankind, of the will to work” is significant in this story because they give insight into the washerwoman’s character. Her hands are gnarled and her fingernails white, worn from years of doing laundry. They are symbolic of her personality, worn but strong. The washerwoman’s hands represent her dignity and pride.
She does not want someone else to have to take care of her and works diligently to support herself. The honest labor she performs gives her life meaning and purpose. It contributes to her sense of self worth and gives her the will to continue to live. Even when she is very ill, she will not let herself die because she has jobs to complete. This story was about the lessons that can be learned from one hardworking old woman, and her hands portray her independence and persistence.
B: In the short story “The Washerwoman” Isaac Bashevis Singer uses symbolism to paint a picture of a determined woman burdened by life’s cares. Symbolism occurs when the author uses something material to represent something that is intangible, and it often develops the theme of the story. The theme of this story is that hard work can bring anyone a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of worth. Though some people have it harder than others, perseverance will bring them at least that. The best example of symbolism in this story that develops this theme is the bundle of laundry the washerwoman carries, because it represents her troubles and the obligations she must honor.
When the washerwoman leaves the narrator’s house, although old and small, the bundle of clothes she carries on her shoulders is large. “At first she swayed, as though she were about to fall under the load. But in inner obstinacy seemed to call out: No, you may not fall.”
The bundle is a symbol of the lifetime of burdens she has collected, though she refuses to give in to the weight of either of them.
One weight the washerwoman carries is that of her son’s rejection. Her son is wealthy and is ashamed of her lowly position. He does not talk to her or send money other than for her coffin and funeral, and does not even invite her to his wedding. Another weight the washerwoman carries is her old age. She is small and old, and though she is strong for her age, near the end she expresses that strength is failing her and her work is becoming harder. Poverty also weighs down the washerwoman. She receives little pay for her efforts and most likely lacks adequate funds. Other burdens are most likely born by the elderly woman, increasing more as

time passes. While most would have fallen from under the burdens she carries, she continues to stand tall, as she does under the load of clothes.
Although her burdens make her life harder, they help to keep her going. She knows there is no one to care for her, so she forces herself to be strong. Her responsibilities to others give her the will to live and to keep working. She bears the weight of the bundle of clothes and the weight of her troubles without complaining, and in return receives only a few coins. The main satisfaction she receives is that of a job well done.
Carrying the laundry is part of her job, but carrying it symbolizes all of the work she does, all of the times her carries on with heavy burdens on her shoulders. The author includes it because it enhances the theme of perseverance by embodying the things she most overcome.
The load of laundry the washerwoman must carry shows that her job is not easy, but it also shows that her life is not easy. It is difficult for a reader to physically picture the burdens she bears, and by showing her defiance to her own lack of strength and pushing on while carrying the too large load, it gives the reader a clearer picture of how determined she is to honor her commitments and create for herself a sense of her own worth.