Alice Walkers Everyday Use
Stark contrast is the focus of Alice Walker's short story, "EverydayUse." While we may feel sympathy for Maggie in the beginning of the story,we feel admiration and respect for her by the story's end because sheexhibits positive characteristics. On the other hand, early in the story,we perceive Dee to be an assertive young woman pursuing her dreams only tosee her superficiality and selfishness. Dee expresses a confidence and a flair for life that her mother acceptsbut could never quite understands. For example, Dee chooses to leave hermother and sister to pursue a college education. We are also told that Dee"wanted nice things" (Walker 1423). Dee also changes her name while she isaway at college to "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo" (1425). Explaining to hermother that she could not bear "being named after the people who oppress
We aretold that she walks like a "lame dog" (1423). While Dee leaves angry because she cannot have thequilts, she tells her mother that she just does not understand herheritage. Maggie was burnedin a house fire and has scars that cause her to meek and withdrawn. " Dee desires to change her life and even goes so far as tochange her name to escape her heritage. After Maggie tells Dee that she can have thequilts, the mother takes them from Dee and tells her, "Take one or two ofthe others" (1428). In conclusion, Dee and Maggie illustrate opposites in Walker's story"Everyday Use. She then tells her sister, "It really is a new days for us. Then she rifles through her mother's trunk and asks for two quiltsthat are promised to Maggie. Maggie and Dee represent family and heritage in a way that the motherhad never realized before. She also holds her chin toher chest, looks at the ground, and shuffles her feet when she walks. Maggie's selfless act causes her mother to understand family and heritagein a way that she never has before. She notices the butter dish and tells her mother to take it along with thedasher. Interestingly, when Maggie does this, her mother realizes that she is notmad at her sister.
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