Every Day Use Literary Analysis

The short story, “Every Day Use” written by Alice Walker is a short story on why remembering our heritage is so important. In the story “Every Day Use” there are many symbolisms a few of the symbol is are the quilts, don’t forget where you came from, and my last symbolism is Mama. Our heritage is like a quilt. Our heritage is so unique because like quilts they are handmade and crafted from scraps or reused materials.

In the 1900 many things where still made by hand. One of things made by hand where quilts. Quilts where often put together using old dresses or other worn down fabrics. These quilts took many weeks and sometimes months to make to perfection. Like Maggie said in “Every Day Use” quilts are a lot like our heritage. The quilts are like our heritage because it takes many different parts and materials to shape our heritage. Our heritage doesn’t have to be made of the finest materials available either what makes each of our heritages so unique is that it is made from things used from our past. Our heritage is like a handmade quilt because it is the things you put into it that make it so special.

In the story Wagner formally known as Dee was quick to forget her roots. She displays this when she is quick to want knew things she knows her family cannot afford. She is also very embarrassed of her home and heritage. When she goes off to college Dee refuse to take the quilts because she said they were old fashioned out of style. Dee is also very quick to remind her family that they can do better in life. Almost to say that what her mother and sister have accomplished in life is amounted to dirt in her own eyes. My second example of symbolism shown by Alice Walker in the story is don’t forget where you came