Alice Walker Heritage

Mama had been so excited for Dee’s visit because she hadn’t seen Dee in years, “You’ve no doubt seen those TV shows where the child who has “made it” is confronted, as a surprise, by her own mother and father, tottering in weakly from backstage,” Mama had dreamed of this day to come because she knew she had done something good for her child, something to be proud of. But upon Dee’s arrival both Mama and Maggie had noticed her change as if she was better then them and understood more of African culture because she had an education, “ I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.” Dee had converted not only her name but her clothes and jewelry to make a statement of what “real” heritage is. This quilts led to a controversy between the meanings of their heritage. Ironically for Dee, Mama had offered her the quilts a long time ago but was too interested in appearance rather than the legacy left behind, “ I had offered Dee a quilt when she went away for college. Then she had told they were old- fashioned, out of style.” Then when she comes back, she wants to hang them as décor and doesn’t want Maggie to have them because she’ll ruin them, ““Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” she said. “ She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.”

Unlike Maggie, Dee has more opportunities than Maggie which makes Dee more free-willing and secure in her own ways. With Dee’s confidence, Mama says “Dee, though. She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature” (Walker par. 6). Dee is held on a high pedestal because of her education and her age. Since Dee is older she is viewed wiser, a full-grown woman, and not a child anymore. Dee is full of experiences due to college and age. The story represents the era of The Black Power Movement and with this era, Dee has carried of new attitude of being liberated and not oppressed by others who feel superior. “In that period, many African Americans, disappointed by the failure of integration, gravitated to the philosophy of cultural nationalism as the means to achieve liberation” (Christian 492). In addition, Dee desires to use a different name to ensure she was not named by one who oppressed her or her grandparents. Dee is very proud of her roots and heritage that she is hopeful to keep the quilts to represent her background and show them off to the world. “‘Everyday Use’ is, in part, Alice Walker’s response to the concept of heritage as articulated by the black movements of the 1960s” (Christian

Dee has moved off to the city and has started a life of her own. Dee hated her home before she moved, and she hasn’t seen the new house Mama and Maggie live in. Since it is just like the one that burned down, Mama is positive Dee will hate it and want to tear it down. Dee does not appreciate her heritage. She has changed her name, religion, and lifestyle to leave her culture behind. Dee wants everything shiny and everything luxurious. When she asks for the same quilts Maggie plans to keep, she explains how she is going to use them for decoration, and how Maggie will just let them be turned to trash. Dee is intelligent, but she is shameful of her heritage.

Dee chooses to change her name because she feels that she no longer wants to be named after her oppressors, when in fact the legacy of her name is attributed to four generations of Dees in the family. If she doesn't even understand the significance of her own name and decides to change it without inquiring, Mama must feel that she can't possibly understand the significance of quilts that have pieces of clothes that were either worn or owned by possibly a century of their ancestors. The quilts held stories and documented generations within the family, Dee's intent to preserve it as art would do the quilts no justice as she could not tell the story of the patches they contain, whereas, Maggie has probably heard every one of these stories being

In the story “Everyday Use”, author Alice Walker uses a comprehensive illustration to help describe the family heritage through the quilts, and the different characters to represent the main theme that heritage is something to always be proud of. The main characters in this story are Mrs. Johnson(Mama), Wangero (Dee) and Maggie, and each character has different values and meanings for the quilts. The quilts show the bond between each generation and illustrate the tradition of African American culture throughout the story. Alice walker use quilts to portrait the symbolism in this story.

479). Her manner of dress invokes the idea of traditional African dress with bright colors and jewelry, in direct contrast to her mother and sister’s drab clothing choices. This image, coupled with the line, “She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, and other folks habits…” (Walker, 1943, p. 477) immediately sets the precedence of her visit, in showing her family how true African-Americans should dress to express their heritage. Looking deeper into this passage, one wonders if this is all for show, and how truly happy Dee is in her new life. She seems to have “made it” by looking at her appearance, but nothing is mentioned of her emotional status or if she has found love or fulfillment in her new life. Whereas, Mama and Maggie appear content and happy living out their lives wanting for little, in this meticulously cared for old

What would you do, if your eldest daughter came back to town, and completely disrespected you and her younger sibling? This is what Mama had to face in Alice Walker’s, ‘Everyday Use’. In this fiction short story, the story is told from the point of view from the main character, Mama. Readers soon discover that Mama is a colored female, living in the 1960’s, oppressed by whites. The eldest daughter, Dee, is one of the main contributors to the conflict in the story. However, the biggest contributors that help build the story, ‘ Everyday Use’ are, heritage, the setting of the 60’s, and the characters.

Ever wonder what the true definition of heritage is? The exact definition of heritage is “a possession that has been inherited,” according to Google. In the short story “Everyday Use” the role of heritage is explored when the main character, Dee, and her mother have different views of their heritage. The main event where heritage is shown is when Dee arrives and asks for the quilts that have been passed down through generations. The story begins with Mama (the narrator) and Maggie (the youngest daughter) awaiting Dee’s (the eldest daughter) arrival. The author in “Everyday Use” uses Mama’s point of view, as well as her flashbacks in time to convey the family’s conflicting view regarding heritage and traditions.

At the same time, judging from the way that Dee acts throughout her visit, such bonds to one’s heritage can be easily broken or even completely destroyed. And when these bonds are finally destroyed it becomes impossible for people like Dee to understand the meaning of such little objects like the quilts in much the same way as it is impossible for her to even understand the origins and the legacy of her name. Again the history behind the quilts is really important so Mama describes more of it: “Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell’s paisley shirts. And one teeny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the Civil War” (495). Made out of many small pieces of Maggie’s and Dee’s ancestors’ clothes, these quilts visually display the history of their family, including all of the struggles such as war, racism and poverty experienced by its members over last century. What makes these quilts even more valuable and important is the fact that because of her poverty Mama considers her heritage, contained in the things like these quilts, as the most important material object in her possession. Therefore she decides that the best way to honor this heritage would be to pass them to Maggie to be used like they were intended to by those who made the quilts and the legacy contained inside of them. The quilts then summarize the great and long heritage, passed on

She believes her heritage lies in her African roots from the distant past. She does not think that her family is a part of her heritage, only the objects they possess. To Mama and Maggie heritage is something that a person lives, and is made up of family members, and the knowledge that gets passed down from them. Maggie’s the she is because her mother didn’t spoil and treats Maggie the same as she did Dee. Maggie knows more about where she comes from, and appreciates her mother more than Dee.

Family heritage is important in any family. They are the roots of who you are, where you came from and who your family is, without family, how would you trace back your family heritage. Sadly, not everyone value their heritage the same way as people should, the reader sees that in the character Dee in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use.” Dee tries to embrace her heritage in an insincere way. Dee disconnects herself from her real heritage by changing the way she dresses, by changing her name, when she took a photo of her family and her eagerness of having the quilts.

What does quilts and heritage have in common? Well obvious one is that quilts are often a piece of heritage from an elder relative that has often passed on; however, a quilt especial in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” can be represent what we do with our heritage. The plot, simply put, is the coming home of Dee. With this home coming is the rehashing of past events and reveals the contrasting attitudes and paths Dee and her sister Maggie all through the eyes of Mama. Taking the style, characters of Walker, this story and the theme more than likely is a commentary on African-American culture particular with heritage. The commentary mainly comes from mama as she compared not only Maggie to Dee but also Dee against herself.

Alice Walker truly values her culture and heritage. So much so that many of her books tell a story of her upbringing. Alice Walker uses symbolism, character development and setting to express her own feelings about culture and heritage. She feels that it is extremely important to maintain and respect the value of family and traditions. The bench, butter churn with the dash and the quilts help show the history of African American culture and heritage. Character developments takes place with Mama, Maggie and Dee which allows the reader to see each person’s point of view when it comes to African American culture and heritage. Mama has an epiphany close to the end of the story and realizes which daughter truly appreciates African American culture

). When mama said this she was referring to Dee, when she would come home from school, with new knowledge. Meaning Dee would force new views on heritage the way she learned it from school, basically stating Mama’s heritage wasn't right and needed change. Mama, she didn't get and education pass the second grade, but that didn't stop her from honoring her ancestors’ true values and heritage. Mama valued the objects passed down from generations, such as the quilts, the washer, and the tuner. But most important to the story was the quilts, simply because Dee insists on owning the quilts for posterity as objects, because mama herself insists passing the quilts down to Maggie. “They will be in good hands worn out, or not.” Mama states. Even though

Ironically, while at college Dee picked up a love for heritage and her African roots. So, on her return home she demanded a quilt that held many scraps of cloth that represented her family’s past. Even though, she had refused them like they were worthless before.