End The Evil Dee Analysis

            Dee personifies her own values. "At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was" (Walker 92). With her husband, she arrives at her mother's home in a brightly-colored dress, adorned with flashy jewelry, her hair in a fashionable style unfamiliar to Maggie and her mother. Dee retrieves her camera from the car and takes pictures of her mother and sister in front of the house. However, she puts the camera away without including herself or her husband in any of the shots. This visit isn't about family or reunion; it is about collecting souvenirs. Dee quickly

In the beginning of the story Dee would never bring anyone over her house. She hated her house so much. In the story Dee was described in the story as, “She Used To Read Without Pity; Forcing Words , Lies , Other Folks’ Habits , Whole Lives Upon Us Two, Sitting Trapped And

Dee represents envy, awe, and outright irritation from her relatives. Personally, Dee is looking for a stronger sense of self and personal meaning. Her judgmental nature affects both Mama and Maggie, and their desire for an inkling of Dee’s approval runs deep within them— appearing even in Mama’s daydreams in the form of a televised program. Sadly, Dee doesn’t to care about winning the approval of Mama and even less so, that of Maggie. Composed, fierce, and brimming with

Dee, at the beginning of story Everyday Use, seems to despise her African American up-bringing and culture. Her mother explicitly tells us Dee seems to be happy when their home, that has family heirlooms stored inside burns to the ground. “She was standing by the old tree, smiling.” Earning favorable marks in school, seemingly living an opposite lifestyle, Dee’s intelligence shines; the only aspect which makes her unappealing, the attitude she has toward her family. After graduating high school and leaving for college, Dee’s mother and sister doesn't hear from her. One day, they see a surprise in the driveway.

There could have been many reasons Dee was the way she was. Had the roles been reversed, and Maggie was the better - treated child, would she have turned out like Dee? Maybe Dee’s privileged childhood is what had caused her to be so stuck - up. Or maybe it had just been her personality working with her education. Regardless, Mama saw how Dee was and began to become disenchanted with her. She learned to appreciate the loyal and kind child she had at home with her, instead of worrying about Dee

As one of the vital characters in "Everyday Use," Dee characterizes what every young adult finding themselves can relate to. She is very comfortable in her skin as the story unfolds and is one that many cling to. Although very popular with others she does not exhibit this same quality with her family. Soon after graduating his school she leaves her family to "find herself." She soon return different in many ways starting with her new name. Soon we find that despite her many changes in life she still had a place in her that so desperately longs for the things of her past. In general in "Everyday Use," as a new found woman Dee is focused on growing into a new person, but still longs to connect with her heritage. Dee can be initially viewed as a complex character throughout the short story as she evolves to separate herself from but soon returns looking to claim the things of the past she so desperately sought to separate from.

If it weren’t for Dee’s entitled attitude towards her family and outward lack of respect for them, you could feel more easily that the time period was her antagonist, as well. She was not all bad, and had a very real appreciation for the benches, churn top, and quilts. As David Cowart put

First, the author describes how Dee’s learning and approaches affected her relationship with her family. For example, Dee intimidated her mother and sister with her education “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 did not help her family with her education but rather wanted to be in control (Walker,p.316). Here, one is able to see how Dee frightened her family with her schooling. Strong adjectives and verbs are used such as “forcing words, ignorant, and determined” to express Dee’s superiority over her family through her education.

What could have been a liberating experience for Dee, her mother, and sister, turns into the cause of divisiveness within their family. Dee did not attempt to educate her family out of love, rather, “She washed us in a river of make-believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know. Pressed us to hear with the serious way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to

First, Dee’s personality can be described as arrogant, irritable, and jealous. Although away from her family, she is pursuing a greater education and a strong sense of self. Dee was spoiled as a child, and she never gets told no. She is rarely concerned with anyone’s needs other than herself. While eating dinner, Dee states “I knew there was something I wanted to ask you if I could have.” She insists that she takes the churn top and the dasher. After

The `new' Dee that arrives at the doorstep presents many conflicts for Momma. She seems unsure what to make of her, as Dee has changed in many ways, including her name and her manner of dress. It appears that Dee has decided to embrace her African heritage and adopt the mannerisms of that cultural. " `What happened to Dee?' I wanted to know. `She's dead' Wangero said. `I could not bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.' " Suddenly what Dee had loathed is now worthy of her attention. Dee takes many pictures of the family, making sure the house is in every one. This confuses momma, since Dee had once told her family that; "no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us. But she will never bring her friends." An old butter churn and dasher become coveted items, not for

Upon her arrival, Dee has changed in many different ways. Not only has her appearance changed, but she informs them that she has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo stating that Dee was a name representative of people who oppressed her. Mama agreed she would call her whatever she wants to be called even though she had given her the name Dee. She named her Dee after her Aunt and several relatives before. During the visit, Dee brought a male companion with her. Upon meeting her companion, he kept saying, “Asalamalakim”. At his request, she calls him Hakim-a-barber. Mama is not sure if the two are married and does not ask. During the visit, Dee took many pictures of her Mama and sister Maggie, but always wants to make sure to the home is included in the background. This shows where she came from and what she feels that she has overcome. As they sat down for dinner, Dee takes notice of things around the home that she remembers and likes. She notices a butter churn that she remembers was carved by her Uncle Buddy. She also notices a dasher and asks Mama if she can have them and take them home to her place. The pieces are objects from her past, but Dee is really more concerned with how they are going to fit in her place as display pieces. Eventually, Dee turns her focus on a trunk at the end of Mama’s bed and that is when she discovers the quilts and tells Mama that she wants

She refers to her ability to “kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man” in a boastful and proud way. She knows her past has shaped her to be the woman she is and is at peace with the individual she has become. Her eldest daughter Dee is a polar opposite to her mother who, from an early age, has rejected the life and circumstances in which she was brought up. We are made aware of this through Mama referring to the time their first house burnt down and that Dee “hated that house.” As a child Dee wanted to make a different life for herself, she wanted nice clothes, nice shoes, and she wanted an education, something her mother lacked. She showed disdain for her surroundings in the way she read to her mother and sister by “forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two.” Further reinforcing Dee’s rejection of her past was Mama remember Dee telling her and Maggie that she would always visit the family home, but she will never bring her

When Dee comes back to visit her family she makes herself an outcast. Dee greets her family with a language that they are not familiar with. She wants things from her “past” life to decorate her house with. Dee distances herself further by changing her name. Dee believes that her name is a way of tying her self to the “people who oppress” her (2440) instead of thinking about her family’s history with that name. She claims that Dee is dead and her new name was Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Dee’s beliefs are also shallow. Her and her boyfriend Hakim-a-barber are supposed to be Muslim but when mama makes food with pork she gobbles it down.

Do I think that Dee is always the devil character? No. I say no because I feel that deep down Dee really does care about her family and believes