Symbolism In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

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Every member of every family in history has a distinct personality, which can often calls forth a tension that is unlike any other. Many people have a hard time understanding that someone that is related to them could be so drastically different. Throughout “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, there are many examples explaining the qualities and mentality of each character, as well as the themes represented in the story and noticeable symbolism. The most notable theme in the story is jealousy, which the reader gets a sense of the further down they read, as well as in the way they describe each character, the interactions between each one, and the symbols used in the story. To begin with, each character in this story, as well as every other human on earth, is extremely different. The majority of their traits are on various points of the personality spectrum. Mama, for instance, is a very physically strong woman, and describes herself as being a “large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands” (Walker 1). She does have insecurities, however, that stem from her childhood and the limited opportunities she had growing up, compared to the new standards and chances that are available to her children, such as an education. Maggie also has much …show more content…

Throughout “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, there are many examples explaining the qualities and mentality of each character, as well as the themes represented in the story and noticeable symbolism. Each device is used in an intelligent, methodical way in an effort to further educate the reader about the time period and issues that were prevalent. The problems presented in the story are also surprisingly relevant to current issues, notably when Walker pokes at family drama and appreciation of

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