Tillie Olsen, counter-revolutionary.

Literary historians have often referred to Tillie Olsen\u27s background as a Communist. This is not surprising, since her writings are overtly political, and she contributed a great deal to the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) in her younger days through her literature as well as through other forms of activism. However, Olsen is actually a counterrevolutionary because as a feminist writer, her themes and style concern the emotional, individual, and even the spiritual. These features contradict the rational mode with dominated Communist Party leadership. Music, an important part of the Communist movement, also plays a significant role in many of Olsen\u27s writings. Olsen uses this very emotional medium as yet another form of rebellion against the Party\u27s analytical, rational ways. Olsen\u27s use of music in the novel Yonnondio and in the short stories O Yes and Tell Me a Riddle represents a blatant rebellion against the Communist agenda While a number of critics have noted ways in which Olsen defied Communist expectations with regard to literature, thus far, her revolt with music has been overlooked