Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”

Maggie and Dee Siblings, although sharing the common bond of blood, are most often extremely different from one other. In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”, the two main characters, Maggie and Dee, are sisters who are as opposite as night and day. Throughout the story, the girl’s differences become evident through their personalities, physical traits, and the way they feel about their heritage. Maggie and Dee have many discrepancies that cause them to view each other as an opponent. Maggie is always “nervous until after her sister goes” away. Maggie “[eyes] her sister with…envy and awe,” and when Dee comes home to visit, Maggie “attempts to make a dash for the house” to escape having to face De

"Maggie and Dee"tms differences throughout "Everyday Use" eventually draw them back to each other and show that no matter how contrasting two people may be, when siblings learn to look past each other"tms faults, they can actually love each other. She gives in to letting Dee have the quilts like "someone who is used to never winning anything. When Maggie makes a comment about the dash that Dee wants, Dee cuts her down and "laughingly" refers to Maggie"tms brain as that of "an elephant"tms. Dee, on the other hand, has "nicer hair and a fuller figure. " Maggie is upset that Momma will let Dee have the quilts Big Dee made, but says "she can remember Big Dee without them. " Even a glimpse of Dee lets Momma know she"tms coming because her feet are always "neat Maxton-2looking as if God himself had shaped them. " Maggie and Dee"tms competitive spirits lead them both to be judgmental of each other. Maggie spends all of her time at home learning how to quilt from "Grandma Dee and Big Dee" and takes up hobbies such as dipping "checkerberry snuff" and sitting on the front porch just "enjoying. Although both girls are raised in the same environment, Maggie and Dee have different opinions on how their heritage should be lived out. Maggie is "ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs" which the house fire "ten years ago" leaves her with. " She wanted "nice things" and left home to go to college in "Augusta. " Maggie and Dee"tms physical qualities prove to be more than skin deep. Maggie and Dee have different physical traits.