Everyday Use by Alice Walker
Type of Story:
A descriptive story
Setting:
A hot summer day somewhere in the South.
Plot:
A woman who is faced with the decision as to which of her two daughters should she give two heirloom quilts. Her oldest daughter Dee, who is visiting from college, sees the quilts as fashionable and believes they should be given to her. Maggie, her youngest daughter, who still lives at home, was promised the quilts. Dee is insistent and tries to pressure her mother into giving her the quilts. She insults Maggie and is rude and disrespectful to her mother. The mother, disgusted and hurt by Dee's behavior, comes to a decision and gives the quilts to Maggie.
Characters:
Mama, a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. She is Dee and Maggie's' mother. Dee ( Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo), the oldest daughter. She is light skinned with a full figure. Materialistic in her out look.
Asalamalakim, a short, stocky fellow with hair to his navel. He is Dee's companion.
Maggie, the youngest daughter is a frail, weak girl whose body is badly scarred. She understands the family heritage.
Theme:
The true value of one's culture and heritage are not represented by the possession of objects or external appearances, but by one's lifestyle and attitude. Dee can be seen to represent a materialistic and modern way of life where culture and heritage are to be valued only for their aesthetic appeal and contribution to fashion. Mama represents a content, simple and practical way of life where culture and heritage are valued both for its usefulness as well as its personal significance. Despite all of Dee's worldliness and education, she neither knows or values her real culture and heritage. Culture is neither name changes or speaking a foreign language, bright dresses or a different hair style. One's culture and heritage is not something to be adop...