Chögyam Trungpa once stated, “We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly enlightened or peaceful or intelligent. Nevertheless, we have soil good enough to cultivate; we can plant anything in it.” The short story “Everyday Use” depicts what the result of being ashamed of your background by illustrating a mother’s struggle between her own culture and a society her daughter craves acceptance from. Alice Walker’s, “Everyday Use” is such an interesting story because it delves into a problem that many people with a prominent cultural background face. The story highlights just how conflicting life can be when your family background differs from that of societies …show more content…
When Dee does arrive, Maggie darts for the front door and Dee steps out flashy as ever sporting a yellow and orange dress loosely flowing in the wind, complimented by shining bracelets. That is not all though, Dee also has brought someone to accompany her a small stocky man who addresses himself as Hakim- a- barber. Dee and Hakim- a- barber walk to meet her mother and Maggie at the porch, both are sitting in chairs. Then Dee takes a picture of her mother sitting and Maggie cowering behind her at the front of the house with her Polaroid. After Hakim- a- barber awkwardly attempts to shake hands with Maggie to no avail, Wangero formerly known as Dee argue over the source of her name. They all settle in the living room and begin to eat a plate of sweet potatoes, collard greens, chitlins and corn bread. Hakim- a- barber announces he does not eat unclean pork or collards, however Wangero is delighted now by the food and objects that fill the rustic room. The dining bench and milk churn especially catch her eye because they were hand whittled by her father and uncle. Wangero is reminded of why she has came and asks her mother for the milk churn speaking of how she will use it as a centerpiece for her alcove table. After dinner Wangero prowls through her mother's trunk to find two quilts hand woven by Wangero’s grandmother. Wangero asks her mother for the …show more content…
As the protagonist of the story, it can be inferred the foil to the mother and Maggie is Dee and Hakim- a- barber. The mother is described as being a big boned woman with man working hands and a second grade education expressing she has adapted to the environment of rural living. While Dee is described as being lighter than Maggie, with nice hair and full figure contrasting Maggie who is described as a lame animal with less of a figure. Dee is able to go to school so she is educated and also is described as wanting nice things and refusing no as an answer. Hakim- a- barber is described as a short stocky man who does not eat pork and looks at Maggie and the mother as if he is inspecting a vehicle. All four of these characters oppose each other in pairs placing one spectrum of living against another. Walkers choice in character development of the mother allows one to conclude the theme of confrontation between culture and society through Dee’s conflicting
Heritage is one of the most important factors that represents where a person came from. In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, this short story characterizes not only the symbolism of heritage, but also separates the difference between what heritage really means and what it may be portrayed as. Throughout the story, it reveals an African-American family living in small home and struggling financially. Dee is a well-educated woman who struggles to understand her family's heritage because she is embarrassed of her mother and sister, Mama and Maggie. Unlike Dee, Mama and Maggie do not have an education, but they understand and appreciate their family's background. In “Everyday Use,” the quilts, handicrafts, and Dee’s transformation helps the reader interpret that Walker exposed symbolism of heritage in two distinctive point of views.
Dee thinks highly of herself because she is academically educated while her mother and sister are not. She flaunts her fortune at her own mother who, along with the church, saves enough money to send Dee to school. She does not even appreciate the sacrifices her mother makes for her on a daily basis. Dee, through a letter, commits to visit Mama and Maggie no matter the rickety accommodations they decide to dwell in (Walker 72). One day when Dee visits her family, Mama and Maggie are shocked to see a stranger exit the vehicle; she is wearing a dress long down to her feet, extravagant gold earrings, and bracelets that makes noise when her arm moves. Her hair is done in an afro with two pigtails wrapped behind her ears (Walker 72). The person they know to be Dee changes her appearance significantly; she even speaks and interacts differently.
She shows how this often harms people’s families, and also hurts livelihoods by convincing people to use things in a good or insecure manner. Alice Walker identifies much in “Everyday Use,” and these things are displayed through the title she selected. It draws people to the story, in craving what the story is about, and it also gives enough information to make the story interesting. Titles reflect a story and show how important it is for people to discuss the messages, certain lines, and conflicts in a story, and Alice Walker’s story really shows all three of these things. Overall, Alice Walker’s choice of “Everyday Use,” for her title, is correctly chosen because first it portrays differing ideas, is the indirect source of conflict, and last, it identifies the ‘good’ and the ‘bad.’
It is over the quilts that she comes into conflict with her mother since the two quilts were already promised to the other daughter, Maggie.
Velazquez, Juan R. "Characterization and Symbolism in Alice Walker's 'Everyday Use.'" Lone Star College System. Lone Star, n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. .
Dee, the older sister, wants to hang the quilts on a wall and view her culture from a distance. In fact she even seems ashamed of her family situation. In a letter to her mother Dee says, " . . . no matter where [they] choose to live, she will manage to come and see [them], but she will never bring her friends" (87). She even goes as far as to denounce her name because she claims, " I couldn't bear it any longer being named after the people that oppress me" (89). However, her mother states that she was named after her aunt and grandmother, the very people who made her beloved quilts. She makes it apparent that her idea of appreciating her culture is to leave it alone, especially when she says, " Maggie can't appreciate these quilts! She'd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use"(91).
...ran down to the soles of my feet. Just like when I'm in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout." Indicating the mother's sense of God's pleasure with her new way of thinking. She takes the quilts from Wangero and gives them to Maggie. Wangero prepares to leave with her husband and tells Maggie and her mother "You just don't understand...your heritage," which is ironic because it is a heritage Wangero wants to eliminate in all ways that do not serve her immediate purpose. This mother clung to her heritage, preserving it for the daughter who appreciated the history, and at the risk of alienating the other daughter. Maggie and her mother "watched the car dust settle" as Dee sped off. Then ."..the two of us sat there just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed." It would be fitting if they were wrapped in a quilt.
Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” is a short story about an African American family that struggles to make it. Mama tries her best to give Maggie and Dee a better life than what she had. In Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use,” Dee is the older sister and Maggie is younger. Dee is described as selfish and self-centered. Maggie is generous, kind, and cares the family’s history together. She would go out of her way to make sure that her older sister, Dee has everything she needs and wants. Maggie is also willing to share what she has with her sister. Maggie is also shy and vulnerable. Mama is the mother of Maggie and Dee. Mama is fair and always keeps her promises to her children. Hakim-a-barber is the boyfriend
The narrator has two daughters, Dee and Maggie. Dee was this cute girl who was super intelligent and sophisticated. She often saw herself as being above her mother and sister and would often make them feel stupid and bad about themselves. "She used to read to us without pity, forcing words, lies, other folks' habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice". She shows that Dee enjoyed making her mother and younger sister feel dumb about themselves because it made her feel superior. Her whole life Dee detested her family and where she came from and couldn’t wait to get away. But, still her mother worked her booty off to provide her with high education and a good life. Dee goes away to college and when she returns she is a completely different person, suddenly interested in her family; photographing them upon arrival. With her guest, new "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo", invades her mothers house taking everything in like it’s a cute display for her. Finally, when Wangero (Dee) demands that her mother give her some quilts, her mum can not take anymore. She tells Dee that Maggie, not her, will be receiving the quilts and she snaps. "I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands, and dumped them into Maggie's lap. Maggie just sat
In the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, a relationship between a mother and daughter is destroyed due to conflicting views and insecurities. This story exemplifies the painful but honest truth in what can happen in families today. As children grow up and go off into the world, they cross paths with new people and become caught up in the never-ending whirlwind of differing opinions and a new identity within themselves. Many grow into the false realization that they have to come in touch with their culture, without first understanding where they are truly from. This story essentially comes down to a lack of connection between loved ones and their families.
Maggie relationship with Dee is full of jealousy and envy. Maggie thinks that her sister is better, prettier, and smarter than she will ever be. Because of that, Maggie is shy and intimidated when her sister and her boyfriend come home to visit for the first time in years. Dee on the other hand does not make it any better, because of her jealousy and judgmental ways make Maggie feel unloved and unappreciated. When Maggie is burn in the house fire Dee shows no concern if her sister lives or die. Even their mother knows that their relationship is nonexistent. Dee’s mother said “I used to think she hated Maggie” (Walker 154). Even as adults Dee and Maggie love for one another is arm distance away. Dee feels that her mother and sister are not claiming their heritage and are close minded country
Alice Walkers “Everyday Use”, is a story about a family of African Americans that are faced with moral issues involving what true inheritance is and who deserves it. Two sisters and two hand stitched quilts become the center of focus for this short story. Walker paints for us the most vivid representation through a third person perspective of family values and how people from the same environment and upbringing can become different types of people.
"Everyday Use" is a short story written by Alice Walker. Walker did a wonderful job illustrating her characters. There are all types of characters in this short story from round to static. Her use of simple symbolism prompts the reader to take a deeper look into the story. Walker’s humble way of conveying the theme makes the reader take a second look at him or herself. Walker did an excellent job in writing this story, so she could warn people of what might happen if they do not live properly.
exactly what's going on and begins to resent Wangero even more. The quilts themselves are symbols in the story, interpreted in different ways, by the narrator, the author, the reader, and Wangero. Again, Walker uses the narrator's simplicity to her advantage. While Wangero sees the quilts as a symbol of her heritage, the narrator. sees them only literally, as blankets to be used, not saved for. cultural posterity.
Author Alice Walker, displays the importance of personal identity and the significance of one’s heritage. These subjects are being addressed through the characterization of each character. In the story “Everyday Use”, the mother shows how their daughters are in completely two different worlds. One of her daughter, Maggie, is shy and jealous of her sister Dee and thought her sister had it easy with her life. She is the type that would stay around with her mother and be excluded from the outside world. Dee on the other hand, grew to be more outgoing and exposed to the real, modern world. The story shows how the two girls from different views of life co-exist and have a relationship with each other in the family. Maggie had always felt that Mama, her mother, showed more love and care to Dee over her. It is until the end of the story where we find out Mama cares more about Maggie through the quilt her mother gave to her. Showing that even though Dee is successful and have a more modern life, Maggie herself is just as successful in her own way through her love for her traditions and old w...