Valuing and Understanding One’s Heritage Article Summary

In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker one can see that a person’s heritage is very important and sacred. Dee and Maggie grew up in the same household reared by the same mother. The sisters were exposed to the same values but matured to express them differently. A person’s values and heritage of their culture are cultivated by the way they are taught and what they value important and sacred. A person’s values originate from their exposures growing up.

Mama is telling (narrating) the story. She has no education. In 1927, after second grade the school was closed down (110). Mama is not a good singer but is better at a man’s job. Mama is very large and stout with a not so witty tongue. She is big-boned with rough man-working hands. She has the strengths of a man and labors as one would. Mama is very sagacious, proud and carefree. She loves both her daughters.

As Dee and Maggie were growing up, mama tried teaching them of the importance of their identities and ancestry. Maggie agrees with her mama on the importance of her heritage. Maggie sees the importance of taking the time to learn how to do the simple things in life such as learning to make a quilt. Dee, on the other hand, has no time for non-sense things.

The author goes on to state Maggie is uneasy about seeing her sister. She shows some infirmity and Dee intimidates her. Maggie sees her sister with admiration and resentment. Maggie is homely and ashamed due to the burns that are on her arms and legs. Maggie has an uncouth (clumsy in behavior) demeanor. Maggie is shy and timid while standing in corners looking as if she lurks around. Mama states that Maggie walks around like a lame animal with her chin to chest. Maggie reads to mama sometimes. Maggie does not see well to read d...

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...ion in Walker's "Everyday Use" Studies in Short Fiction 33 (1996): 171-84. New Berry College. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

Farrell, Susan. Fight vs. Flight: A Re-evaluation of Dee in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" Studies in Short Fiction 35 (1998): 179-86. Newberry College. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

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Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” Everyday Use. Ed. Barbara Christian. New Brunswick: Rutgers, UP, 1994. 23-35.

Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. 108-114. Print

Whitsitt, Sam. "In Spite of It All: A Reading of Alice Walker's "Everyday Use"" African American Review 34.3 (2000): 443-59. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.