Symbolism the use of symbols to ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that
are different meaning. For example, there are different varieties of flowers like the roses stand
for romance, violets represent shyness, lilies for beauty and temptation, and chrysanthemums
represent perfection. Symbols are also used in colors to symbolize on what they represent. For
instance, black is used to represent death or evil, white stands for life and purity, red can
symbolize passion, purple is a royal color, yellow stands for violence or decay, and blue
represents peacefulness and calm. Objects can rarely be used as symbols as well. A chain
can symbolize the coming together of two things. A mirror can denote the sun but when it is
broken, it can represent an unhappy union or a separation.
In the novel, Everyday Used, Dee came to visit her family Mama Johnson and Maggie. Dee
came with a male friend name Hakim – A – Barber. Dee took the butter churn and the dasher to
be displayed for art, but then also wanted the quilt that was made by grandma Dee. Mama
Johnson refused to give the quilt to Dee, because Dee doesn’t understand her heritage.
Instead, Mama Johnson gave it to Maggie; Mama Johnson had seen her sister and mother in
Maggie. Maggie understood the value of the butter churn, the dasher, and the quilt her heritage
was important to Mama Johnson that was passed down from generation to generation. Dee
change over time when she was away at college. Dee’s heritage wasn’t the same as it was
before, Dee has seen a new era. Hakim – A – Barber a friend of Dee has also change the way
of his heritage. Hakim – A – Barber became a Jew, which means he cannot eat anything made
of meat...
... middle of paper ...
...used to give it to Dee, and Dee left with Hakim – A –
Barber. Heritage is a necessity to family to what is valuable to their family to remember them by.
Works Cited
Bemad.Nick. “Symbolism in Walker’s Everyday Use:
Enotes.N.P. , 4 July 2007. Web 17 Mar 2014
Eshbaugh Ruth. “A literary Analysis of Alice Walker’s short Story ‘Everyday Use : “YAHOOVOICES.Yahoo. Inc.,
21 Aug 2008.Web.17 Mar 2014.
White David. “Everyday Use’ : Defining African American Heritage.”
Luminarium. Aniina Jokinen, 19 Sep 2002. Web, 17 Mar 2014
WriteworkEditor. “Symbolism in Everyday Use’ by Alice
Walker.” Writework.Np. , May 2006.Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Sparknotes editors. “Themes, Motifs and symbols.”
Sparknotes LLC, Nod. , Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Velazquez. JuanR. “Characterization and Symbolism in Alice
Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’. “Lonestar. N.p. , n.a Web. 17 Mar 2014
...have been handed down from generation to generation, and that in itself is admirable. But since the narrator wants more for the quilts, I agree with her decision. I am sure the quilts would look nice hung on a wall, but I think that they would be enjoyed more on a bed or couch, as Maggie would use them. It is also what her grandma and other older generations would have wanted. These quilts were made to be used. And as they become tattered, she can repair them and even add to them. I think Maggie would get the most enjoyment of them.
Symbolism can be defined as “the representation of a reality on one level of reference by a corresponding reality on another” (“Symbolism” 564). The word symbol comes from the Greek word "symballein," which translates literally into “to throw together” and suggests the combining of two unrelated worlds. Much...
Dee as having, "nice hair and a full figure" (87). Dee takes pride in the
...y're just collecting dust in the bottom of this old trunk." Momma had other quilts to use. She would not begrudge Dee. However, Momma did promise them to Maggie and so Momma had to keep that promise because Momma knew that regardless of how much more "successful and smart" one daughter was could not be allowed to diminish the love she had for Maggie. For Momma, a promise was a promise and barring her own death, it would be kept.
While reading this there were some animosity toward Dee because of what type of character she was. The animosity was caused by the numerous comments and actions that occurred in the story. She was very selfish, uneducated, and very unappreciative of where she came from. Dee carried herself in a very ridiculous way. Among Dee’s family she is the object of jealousy, awe, and agitation, meanwhile she searches for her purpose and sense of self. Dee and her judgmental nature has an effect on Mama and Maggie, her younger sister. Although she across as being arrogant and insensitive, Mama sees he strive to know more and do more. Dee also portray as being a condensing type person because no matter where Mama and Maggie lived she still kept her commitment to come and visit. When Dee comes to visit she tells Maggie and Mama that she has changed her because Dee had died when she left for college. Dee changed her name to Wangoero, which come across as being an attention seeking ploy who still keeps the selfishness of Dee. With Dee changing her name to Wangoero she wants to reclaim her heritage and honor
The condescending attitude and request from Dee leads Maggie to feel ashamed of her life for a moment and she nearly gives the heirlooms away. “She can have them, Mama,” were the words of...
Dee, (Wangero) is a self ? centered young woman who ?manages? to come for a visit. Unlike Maggie, she is not living her cu...
Symbol: A Symbol is defined as something that represents something else. An example of this can be seen in things that represent us as people. For instance, names is a good example and represents who you are. Also, it should be noted that symbols are arbitrary, since symbols have no necessary connection to what they represent.
For example, when she arrives, the very first thing Dee announces is that she has taken a new name to remove herself from “the people who oppress her” (Walker). In fact, she was named after her aunt, but Mama humors her instead of making an issue of it (Walker). There are several instances in this story where Dee insults her culture and heritage due to her recent acculturation (Walker). She wants to acquire everyday things from the family home to display as art (Walker). Her sister is offended, but Mama, keeps a tight rein on the situation, as any good leader would (Walker). Mama can see that Dee has evolved and adapted from her experiences and allows her that freedom (Walker). But, not everyone can be seduced by the influences of others and so cultures and traditions are retained. When Dee’s visit ends, life goes back to the way in which Mama and the younger sister, Maggie, are accustom (Walker). Mama keeps a balance in this story. She is conducive in assuring her daughters feel comfortable to stay with what they know or fly off into the
In Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use” is about a girl named Dee that is
Quilts symbolize a family’s heritage. Maggie adheres the tradition by learning how to quilt from her grandmother and by sewing her own quilts. Maggie also puts her grandmother’s quilts into everyday use. Therefore, when Dee covets the family’s heirloom, wanting to take her grandmother’s hand-stitched quilts away for decoration, Mama gives the quilts to Maggie. Mama believes that Maggie will continually engage with and build upon the family’s history by using the quilts daily rather than distance herself from
The quilts were pieced together by Mama, Grandma Dee, and Big Dee symbolizing a long line of relatives. The quilts made from scraps of dresses worn by Grandma Dee, Grandpa Jarrell’s Paisley shirts, and Great Grandpa Ezra’s Civil War uniform represented the family heritage and values, and had been promised to Mama to Maggie when she married. However, Dee does not understand the love put into the making of the quilts, neither does she understand the significance of the quilts as part of her family heritage. It is evident she does not understand the significance of the quilt, having been offered one when went away to college declaring them “as old-fashioned” and “out of style”. She does not care about the value of the quilts to her family, rather she sees it as a work of art, valuable as an African heritage but not as a family heirloom. She wants the quilts because they are handmade, not stitched with around the borders. She tells Mama, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!... She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use… But, they’re priceless!.. Maggie would put them on her the bed and in five years they’d be in rags. Less than that!” (317). The quilt signifies the family pride and history, which is important to Mama. She makes the decision to give the quilt to Maggie who will appreciate it more than Dee, to whom she says, “God knows I been saving ‘em for long enough with
When Dee returns and announces that she would be using a new name in order to reflect her African heritage her Mom becomes annoyed and starts to find her attitude ridiculous. After Dee tells her Mom that she no longer goes by Dee, Mom replies, “What happened to ‘Dee’?”(488). The fact the Mom asks about these changes exemplifies this annoyance she has with Dee. When Dee explains she changed her name because she’s oppressed her Mom shows that she finds the attitude ridiculous by pointing out it is a family tradition spanning more than 4 generations. When Dee starts asking to have the items that her Mom and Maggie need for everyday use with the intent to appreciate it as art, it only furthers how much she irritates her Mom. Dee had been offered one of the quilts before she went to college Dee thought they were, “old-fashioned, out of style.”(490). It’s after Maggie agrees to give Dee the quilts that her Mom realizes that she has always given Dee everything she wanted even at Maggie’s expense. Mother had an epiphany about how to handle the situation, shown when she says, “Something hit me on top of the head”, “just like when I’m in church and the spirit of God touches me”(492). Dee’s attitude had annoyed the Mom so much she had this realization. For once the Mom decides to stand up against
Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," explores Dee and Maggie's opposing views about their heritage by conveying symbolism through their actions. Maggie is reminded of her heritage throughout everyday life. Her daily chores consist of churning milk, helping mama skin hogs on the bench which is the same table her ancestors built, and working in the pasture. On the other hand, Dee moved to the city where she attends college. It is obvious throughout the story; Dee does not appreciate her heritage. When Dee comes back to visit Mama and Maggie she announces that she has changed her name to Wangero. Dee states "I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me" (89). Her stopping the tradition of the name Dee, which goes back as far as mama can remember, tells the reader that Dee does not value her heritage. Another symbolism of her lack of appreciation for her heritage demonstrated through her actions is when Dee asks Mama if she can have the churn top to use it as a ce...
In Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," the message about the preservation of heritage, specifically African-American heritage, is very clear. It is obvious that Walker believes that a person's heritage should be a living, dynamic part of the culture from which it arose and not a frozen timepiece only to be observed from a distance. There are two main approaches to heritage preservation depicted by the characters in this story. The narrator, a middle-aged African-American woman, and her youngest daughter Maggie, are in agreement with Walker. To them, their family heritage is everything around them that is involved in their everyday lives and everything that was involved in the lives of their ancestors. To Dee, the narrator's oldest daughter, heritage is the past - something to frame or hang on the wall, a mere artistic, aesthetic reminder of her family history. Walker depicts Dee's view of family heritage as being one of confusion and lack of understanding.