Alice Walker
Defining Heritage in Walker's "Everyday Use""Everyday Use" is found in Alice Walker's collection of short stories book, In Love and In Trouble, which was published in 1973. Alice Walker has gone through many difficulties in life that influenced her views about herself as well as the views of everything that surrounded her. These difficulties molded her and created the writer that readers enjoy today. Walker's own struggles seem to be reflected within this novel. Not necessarily the same one's as the characters in her book but life experiences that she has encountered along the way. The central theme of the story is the way in which family members of the same, African American family cherished their heritage. Mama's family for instance, struggles to understand their present life's relationship to the traditions of their culture. Using careful descriptions and attitudes, Walker demonstrates factors, which contribute to the values of one's heritage and culture. In "Everyday Use", it is almost as if Alice Walker compels her reader to understand the importance of African American traditions and culture. Using symbolism to provoke her readers to look deeper into the story. To many Southerners, home is the place where the family
Walker uses Mama to characterize her daughters and herself in an unbiased light through the kind, compassionate, yet honest eyes of a mother. In "Everyday Use", Walker portrays the importance of home through a family of three women in South. Failing to realize the name Dee, could be traced back to her ancestors during Civil War. His name was Henry, but they called him Stash" (111). The story makes it clear that Dee is confused about her inheritance through the use of her new name. So, by her mother taking a stand for herself and Maggie and snatching the two quilts from Dee's hands and giving them to Maggie this is a turning point in their lives. Though she has been educated by the world of school, she was dumb struck by the lack of knowledge of her own family background. Although Maggie might not be an intellectual, she is knowledgeable about her heritage. In the end the increased tension that you can clearly see in the beginning of the story as they waited for Dee's visit has been demolished. Now Dee on the other hand is the awkward individual, who actually watched the old house burn down to the ground without any remorse. You have to admit identity is something that concerns everyone, whether you like it or not. Maggie is also accustomed to being pushed aside. This story is told through the eyes of Mama. You were able to see how a mother became emotionally unattached from her oldest daughter after years of separation.
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Acceptance Essays
