Alice Walker Everyday Use Imagery

Alice Walker’s story “Everyday Use” is a story decipating family and heritage. She released the story with a collection of other short stories called In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women. This collection revealed Walker to be one of the finest of late twentieth century American short-story writers (Phy-Olsen). According to Cowart, the story address itself “to the dilemma of African Americans who are striving to escape prejudice and poverty.” One of the main characters, Dee, made drastic changes and would like her mother and sister to see things her way. Dee’s statement to her mother and sister regarding their disregard of heritage is very ironic considering the fact her name is a part of the family’s history, her new behavior, and her

Alice Walker is a well-known African- American writer known for published fiction, poetry, and biography. She received a number of awards for many of her publications. One of Walker's best short stories titled "Everyday Use," tells the story of a mother and her two daughters' conflicting ideas about their heritage. The mother narrates the story of the visit by her daughter, Dee. She is an educated woman who now lives in the city, visiting from college. She starts a conflict with the other daughter, Maggie over the possession of the heirloom quilts. Maggie still lives the lifestyle of her ancestors; she deserves the right of the quilts. This story explores heritage by using symbolism of the daughters' actions, family items, and tradition.

A daughter who uses her mother's gifts in contrast to a daughter who preserves them, is far more valuable just like in “Everyday use” by Alice Walker because heritage values can be preserved. From here on, Walker utilizes a prideful tone which later shifts into an authoritative tone by illustrating a proud mother who becomes defensive because of her modern daughter’s opposing views.

While the two sisters perspectives on heritage contrast each other, Walker employs a case of dramatic irony to prove that Dee's perspective is wrong, which automatically proves that Maggie is right, considering their opposite characteristics. Dee

     Pride is the theme that seems to separate this family the most. It's having pride versus not having it. Maggie doesn't have it. She does not speak for herself when Dee wants the quilts. She lets mama speak for her. Like a scalded dog, she hides behind Mama when Dee arrives. Mama compares Maggie to a "Lame animal…run over by a car…"(Walker 88). Pride mostly comes from respect and she doesn't get much. Dee maybe has too much pride. This probably comes from "the world not knowing how to say no to her." She has looks and she's what one would describe as

“Everyday Use”, by Alice Walker, is a story of Mrs. Johnson and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, whose personalities are totally different. In this story, Walker uses two hand-stitched quilts to symbolize the inheritance. Walker explain her characters as someone who accept African-American heritage and appreciate its values. The mom is a dynamic character because of the change in her way of judging her two daughters and finally acknowledging the beauty of Maggie. Maggie, too, is a dynamic character compared to Dee because Dee’s character remains the same throughout the story. Walker has written "Everyday Use" with a historical touch, especially when Mrs. Johnson speaks about Maggie receiving the quilts her ancestors made. However, Dee, Maggie’s

She is protective, and loving to Maggie. Mama realizes that Dee who is lighter skinned, and with other physical attributes admired by others will fare better in life, although she acknowledges some of Dee's flaws to herself. She also recognizes that Dee is better able to care for herself.

Alice Walker is a writer of many powerful short stories, novels, essays and poetry. She used her work to bring black women’s lives to the main focus, such as the rich and important in the US American Literature. In the short story “Everyday Use” written by Alice walker, she showed the conflicts and struggle throughout the African- American culture. “Everyday Use” addresses the dilemma with African Americans, trying to escape prejudice and poverty. The short story “Everyday Use” focuses on the encounter between a mother and her daughters. The setting of the story takes place in the driveway of the mother’s house. The mother and her youngest daughter Maggie wait for her oldest daughter Dee and her male friend to visit from school. Alice

They everyday use of an item differs from person to person. There can be one item that has many uses or many items that has the same use. For example, a simple rubber band to most is simply a hair tie, but did you know it can also be used to make opening jars easier, tye dye eggs and shirts? It’s all about the way you see things. In the short story “everyday Use” by Alice Walker, it shows the difference of opinion two sisters can have based on the way they perceive themselves.

Through contrasting family members and views in "Everyday Use", Alice Walker illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to the traditions of our own people and culture. Using careful descriptions and attitudes, Walker demonstrates which factors contribute to the values of one's heritage and culture; she illustrates that these are represented not by the possession of objects or mere appearances, but by one's lifestyle and attitude.

Thesis: In Alice Walker short story “Everyday Use”, Mama embodies the idea of everyday use by being dedicated, skilled, and a hard working.

Maggie learns from her mother and appreciates her family, even though she is not as lively as her sister. Dee is very extroverted and knows what she wants. Maggie’s “attention is captured by the two old handmade quilts” (Ross 1228) and she knows she wants to have them. Mama and Maggie are in awe of Dee because of her confidence, but they also know that they are right to appreciate their family and

“Everyday Use” is a short story by Alice Walker, which emphasizes the importance of understanding and cherishing your heritage and the inheritance that may come along with it. Knowing who is truly entitled to the inheritance, and what their heritage meant was the central conflict in the story, when the two main characters Dee and Maggie, both wanted the two hand stitched quilts. Rather than looking at the physical aspect of the quilts the author wants the reader to know that the meaning is much deeper. The quilts are used to depict the struggle, triumphs, oppression, joy, pain, and love of each hand that helped to create the prized works of art. The quilts needed to be put to everyday use, rather than a mere decoration on the wall. Through the quilts Walker was able to show what each character valued: Dee valued the materials things, Maggie, valued things she could attach herself to, and Mama valued the acceptance of her daughter Dee.

Everyday Use Alice Walker most famous short stories. Symbolism is used throughout this piece to develop Walker's overall theme. For instance, quilts are mentioned throughout the entirety of the story. These quilts are homemade by Walker herself, her mother, and her sister. They are comprised of clothing

narration. At first, I had no idea where this story was going to take the reader. The