Conflict in Old Age Essay

Conflict in Old Age Essay
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Introduction
Conflicts and passions within David and Eva's lengthy marriage are at the center of Tillie Olsen's ‘Tell Me a Riddle'. The couple's marriage having been formed during a period of political turmoil, had shared a dream that a more, just and humane world could be attained; a vision that is now being challenged by a life of hardship and poverty. Eva and David have become furious and estranged with each other and their conflicting desires are ultimately tearing them apart. Eva, after spending her lifetime caring for her husband and children is now craving for solitude (Olsen, 1962). David, on the other hand, craves for companionship and sociability.
The source of conflict
Among the concerns presented by Olsen, in relation to the conflict, are the complexity and tenacity of marital and familial love, the tasks and costs associated with motherhood, immigration experience, women marginalization, the dying process, difficulties of illness and aging, and the obsession with justice even in the face of all the harm done by oppression and poverty (Olsen, 1962). This paper will discuss the source of conflicts and the two sides of the conflict.
The marriage of David and Eva, an immigrant couple from Russia, is falling apart after almost four decades, the tensions between the couple had been reserved for many years in order to raise their children, but are resurfacing now that they are living alone (Olsen, 1962). During their entire marriage period, Eva was able to ignore her personal desires in order to provide the children with an appropriate upbringing. In so doing, she has been forced to sacrifice her identity and voice. All she now wants, in her old age is to be alone- she prefers to live in her Russian memories than in memories of a life in which she was absorbed with others. This stance is what leads to a major conflict when David seems determined to ensure that they move from their current home to a retirement community in Florida known as the Haven. Eva highly values her space and freedom, and sharply objects to plan. The couple's adult children – Paul, Hannah, Vivi, Clara, Lennie, and Sammy- are mystified by this hostility, and attempt to encourage their parents to act reasonably (Olsen, 1962). Eva seems to strongly resent a life of putting her personal needs aside for those of others. She particularly resents how her husband had always been able to attend card games and lodge meetings, while she had to stay at home. All she prefers now is silence and solitude- she has chosen to simply sit around and rest. David on the other hand constantly talks about shifting to Haven and even threatens to sell their current home without her approval.
David seems ready to exploit every avenue available to ensure he realizes his dream of moving to the retirement community even though it would be against the desires of Eva. A good example is when the doctor reveals the possibility of a little kidney disorder with Eva and advices that she be more active; the doctor says Eva needs to start “living like a human being” (Olsen, 1962, p.72). In clear exploitation of this advice, David continues to argue that they need to move to the retirement home. Despite all David's attempts, Eva remains unshaken in her stance to stay in the current house. Eva's continued resistance to activity develops into a source of conflict; David is forced to stop going to his regular meetings. He invites relatives and old friends to pay Eva a visit. When Eva pushes them away, David gives up his efforts (Olsen, 1962). One night, while David is leaving the house for a meeting, Eva begs him to stay. He instead mocks her for continuously changing her mind. David leaves her behind, crying and cursing him.
The two sides that make up the conflict between Eva and David are the past and the present. While Eva seems quite keen to go back to the past and take back what life had forced her to give up, David, focused on the present, sees no point in doing so. Throughout the story, Eva's life and key struggles reflect the restricted role women have had to face in the society (Olsen, 1962). When Eva came to America, she was initially a ferocious revolutionary, rather than a submissive female, who learned the murderer's ways, and who still harbors strong, fervent ideals of history and freedom. All this originates from being raised at a turbulent period of transition i...