Everyday Use By Alice Walker: Literary Analysis

The both stories give you a clear understanding of what the characters think about the quilts and why they're so important.The main idea behind the quilts is to let the reader know what the characters have been through and what memories were formed in their lives.In “Everyday Use”, The quilt was made from their grandma's old dress and the grandpa army uniform. In “My Mother Pieced Quilts”, the mom used old dresses and nightgowns.The Daughter reflects on her mother's memories when she runs down and up of the quilt.There are sculptures of their family and in the quilt, there's death and life, love.The quilt becomes a

Heritage is something that people see in various ways. When many people think of heritage they think of past generation and where their family comes from. Other people place their heritage on the value of things, such as old quits that are made from something sentimental. In Everyday Use this is exactly how Maggie thinks of heritage. She wants the quits that were handmade out of her grandma’s dresses because to her that is a sign of her heritage. Alice Walker’s story is based on heritage. The narrator of the story has two daughters who could not be more different. One daughter, Dee, is beautiful and cares a lot about finding her place in the world, and about fashion. Maggie on the other hand is very practical. She does not see any reason

Jacques Derrida had once said that culture is something in which "everything is arranged so that it is this way." I believe that culture is the opposite as it creates the way in which you perceive external forces rather then it being the external forces arranged in a specific way. Culture therefore allows one to become informed about foreign cultures to which one is then to perceive the culture a specific way. Culture is the multitude of many factors in which it consistently informs one 's perception of the world surrounding them as well as the individuals.

     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

In the short story "Everyday Use", by Alice Walker, tension between characters is evident. When Dee arrives home to visit Mama and Maggie, readers can see the differences in personality between the three characters. Dee has changed her name to "Wangero" to get closer to her so-called “culture” and is collecting many objects of her past that she did not want before. On her mother’s savings for her, Dee is able to go to college and therefore is more educated. However, she uses this new knowledge to look down on Maggie and Mama. One of the many objects of her past that Dee asks for is a quilt passed down to the females of the next generation. Instead, Mama wants Maggie to have

“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, is a story of a black family composed of a mother and her two daughters: Maggie and Dee. Walker does an excellent job illustrating her characters. There are all types of characters in this short story from round to static. Dee is a flat character, yet Walker uses Dee’s character to warn people of what might happen if they do not live properly. Walker describes Dee’s character as arrogant and selfish, and through Dee’s character one is allowed to perceive the wicked effect of an egotistical world.

Throughout the short story “Everyday Use” author Alice Walker demonstrates how cultural experiences have shaped Mama’s perspective on the world.

Maggie lost her confidence and what made her who she is, is the terrifying memories she had when the house got on fire and had left scars on her, which made her feel “ugly”. Though that Maggie seems to be the opposite from her sister, but she values life more than Dee. She is proud of where she is from and she is not willing to change her life although she is uneducated and didn’t go discover life like Dee did. Maggie is proud of her heritage unlike her

Firstly, when contrasting the two sisters, you can see just how different in attitude and appearance they are. “Dee is lighter than Maggie, with nicer hair and fuller figure” (Walker, pars. 8).

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

Mama has promised to Maggie when she gets engaged, she can receive the family quilt. The quilt is highly symbolic, representing Mama past traditions and cultural heritage. Grandma Dee created the quilt and past down to Big Dee, both characters in the family history who took charge in teaching their culture and heritage to their children. This family item is very significant in the sense that it has history behind it. In addition, it comes with uniforms that Dee great grandpa wore during the Civil War. The war symbolizes the value in African American history. Walker Furthermore, the family quilt also builds on to the idea of activities women did during the time to pass down

In the story “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker, the story is written from a mother’s viewpoint as she talks about her two daughters, Maggie and Dee, and how different they are. The comparison of characters is something that Alice Walker allows us to see while reading the story. She does this by describing to us the characters appearance, personality, lifestyle, and any other unique qualities that might help demonstrate someone. “Everyday Use” describes to us how a mother rejects the values of her older, successful daughter in favor of the practical values of her younger, less fortunate daughter. Alice Walker is exploring the concept of heritage as it applies to African-Americans by bringing the quilt into the story. Maggie is a character that truly understands culture and family, which is why Mama truly felt that is why she deserved the quilt. Mama' giving the quilt to Maggie show the readers that Maggie has more pride than Dee.

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.

Alice Walker is a story about the bonding of her family. Family bonding is a huge when it comes to family, because that’s what keeps families strong. Walker informs mothers and daughters that bonding between family members is important, by her tone, the symbol of the quilt, and relationship between mothers and daughters. The narrator in the story will show examples of the way family bonding can keep a family strong.

Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” is a short story included in her collection In Love and Trouble published in 1973. The story’s setting takes place in the Deep South during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s as many “blacks” were struggling to define their cultural identities (White). Traditions and culture in “Everyday Use” is portrayed contrastingly between Ms. Johnson and Maggie, who still follow rural black cultural of the south and Dee who has newly adopted a “native African” culture. An encounter over the use of quilts simplifies into two different interpretations of culture. Walker uses symbolism and contrasting characters to portray these interpretations and implies that culture and heritage are a part of everyday life.