Character Analysis of Everyday Use Essay

Alice Walker includes three major Characters in her short story Everyday Use; Mama and her two daughters Dee and Maggie. The three have extremely different personalities and characteristics especially Dee. Dee leaves her mother and her sister to experiences a better life in college in the city. Meanwhile mama and Maggie elatedly carry out their usual tasks and every day chores. Later Dee decides to visit her family for her selfish intention of getting things from her mother to decorate her new apartment. Alice Walker illustrates through Mama, Dee, and Maggie conflicting ideas about the importance of identities and heritage.

Mama is a full bodied woman who does the upkeep of the house. To Mama Tradition is a very important part of learning your heritage. Though different in some ways, Mama and Maggie were similar when it came to the understanding and the appreciation of their heritage that passes between them. Mama loved her daughters both but was faced with a dilemma when Dee the eldest decided to come home from college and decided that she wanted to decorate her new apartment with the familys quilt. Knowing the importance of the quilt Mama was faced with the decision to give it to Dee whom seemed to only want it for material reasons, and Maggie who mama promised the quilt to, when she married.

Dee is the eldest of the two, who was light-skinned with nice hair and a full figure was a materialistic and ego tistical girl. Heritage in Dees eyes are seen differently from Mama and Maggie. She symbolizes heritage as a materialistic object. It should be observed and looked upon, but not lived through. Both Mama and Maggie knew Dee was different; She wanted nice things. At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was. She continued her education, which symbolizes her out reach to society, getting out there and wanting to be known. Her mother knew how determined she was, She was determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts known. She attempts to reconnect with her heritage when she comes to visit home from college. This visit symbolizes her misconception on heritage. Dee wanted to have the quilts contrast with the traditions Mama has with Maggie. Dee said how the quilts were hand stitched and learns some pieces were from their great grandmothers dresses, stating the fact of how these quilts symbolize an important part of heritage to Dee. When Mama tells Dee that she plans on giving the quilts to Maggie as a wedding present, she believes that Maggie has no appreciation for such priceless things and infers that she will put them to everyday use.

Maggie isnt as attractive as Dee, ashamed from being burnt by the fire in the previous house. As mama describes She had been like this chin on chest, eyes on ground, and feet in shuffle ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground. She is thin and awkward with low self-esteem. The different lifestyle interpretation between her and Dee is what keeps them separated. Maggie is simple and is satisfied with a simple life like her mother. Tradition and heritage is important to Maggie and the quilts represent that for her and her mother. Though Dee only wants the quilt for her own selfish and materialistic reasons, and not the reason in which the quilts was made for.

Everyday Use is a good story that shows the importance of family and heritage. Though we all may not have the same opinions heritage gives a since of pride and ownership. Understanding, respecting, and acknowledging our culture helps us identify who we are and without the prior knowledge of our heritage. Though Dee was more educated. And dressed more sophisticated than her mother and sister, they knew something that Dee couldnt learn in books and that was the significance of heritage being more important than style.