Essay on Analysis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker - 631 Words

The story Everyday Use, written by Alice Walker, is a story of heritage, pride, and learning what kind of person you really are. In the exposition, the story opens with background information about Dee and Maggies life, which is being told by Mama. The reader learns that Dee was the type of child that had received everything that she wanted, while Maggie was the complete opposite. The crisis, which occurs later in the story, happens when Dee all of a sudden comes home a different person than she was when she left. During the Climax, Mama realizes that she has often neglected her other child, Maggie, by always giving Dee what she wants. Therefore, in the resolution, Mama defends Maggie by telling Dee that she cannot have the†¦show more content†¦Mama could be defined as a round character in the story because of the change she undergoes at the end. Mama?s goes through a dramatic change in the story when she gets up the nerve to tell her aggressive, non-hesitant daughter ?No?, and gives her other daughter Maggie, who has often been on the bad end of things, the household items for her marriage. Dee could probably be considered a main character in the story, but her change was too simple, because she changed on the outside only, and because she didn?t change on the day that the story occured. Mama stated ?When I looked at her like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the souls of my feet. Just like when I?m in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout? (94). Maggie did not have a lot of input in the story although she did change a little, both were flat characters. Mama is a more in-depth character than Dee and Maggie because the reader is given very descriptive attributes of her physically and mentally. Dee did not want to quilt to remember her heritage by, but instead to hang it up on the wall like some sort of trophy to show others where she has come from. She loves her family very much, but is ashamed of the surroundings she grew up in. Overall, Mama?s change had a big impact on the story due to the fact that she went f rom a woman who had low self esteem and was scared toShow MoreRelatedEveryday Use by Alice Walker an Analysis1049 Words   |  5 PagesTamica Powell September 30, 2011 Everyday Use Analysis Everyday Use is a compelling story of a mothers conflicting relationships with her two daughters. Maggie, which the mother feels contains more practical and traditional ways of living life and then Dee her oldest and most promising daughter, who she feels has broken away from tradition and has lost a lot of their heritage. At first glance you would see this as the normal mother daughter spat of maybe the wild child versus the littleRead MoreAnalysis Of Everyday Use By Alice Walker951 Words   |  4 PagesAn Analysis of three messages from Everyday Use Do you know where your mother got her wedding ring? Most people get their rings from their parents and pass it down to their first child usually. This is probably the most commonly past heirloom, but some families have other heirlooms. Heirlooms are something that is passed down from generations to generation. It will usually be very old and valuable, from it traveling around the world to the Americas or from a great great grandparent. Alice WalkerRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Everyday Use By Alice Walker1083 Words   |  5 PagesUse (Literary analysis on Everyday Use by Alice Walker) Everyday many people use the same things such as phones, cars, sinks, washer, refrigerators, and etc. In 100 years would you can future ancestors still have those things but only use them as decoration or use them still no matter how old they are because that is what they are made for? Everyday Use by Alice walker is a story of an African American family that had two daughter that live a very different reality. Maggie being scarred from aRead MoreEveryday Use By Alice Walker Analysis978 Words   |  4 PagesUnderstanding Everyday Use by Alice Walker One of the most monumental short stories of the twentieth century is Alice Walker’s â€Å"Everyday Use.† By carefully considering the use of point of view, a better understanding of the story’s meaning will be obtained. It will be possible to appreciate how diverse language patterns and cultural differences may impact the understanding of characters and conflict situations. Everyday Use is a unique story as it places the voice of an African American woman atRead MoreEveryday Use By Alice Walker Analysis971 Words   |  4 PagesThrew different Eyes The story Everyday use would seem very different if told from someone else but not Mama. Think of having a friend/girlfriend that is very smart and sophisticated. Then going to visit her family with her. Also getting there and her family nothing like her. They do not think the same act the same and/or look the same. Then they are arguing over something that seems pointless and useless. Everything they eating looks nasty and/or taste nasty. Alternatively, being the younger siblingRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Everyday Use `` By Alice Walker1315 Words   |  6 Pagescultures to which one is then to perceive the culture a specific way. Culture is the multitude of many factors in which it consistently informs one s perception of the world surrounding them as well as the individuals. For instance, in Alice Walker s Everyday Use, two sisters, Maggie and Dee, lived together with their mother. In the story, the mother sends Dee away ,to send her Augusta to school. Afterwards, the mother explained that ,she used to read to us without pity, forcing words, lies,Read MoreAnalysis Of Everyday Use By Alice Walker1007 Words   |  5 PagesThe Better Sister The short story of â€Å"Everyday Use† was written by Alice Walker. Mrs. Johnson is the narrator of the story. In this petite narrative, Mrs. Johnson and her youngest daughter Maggie get a visit from her oldest daughter Dee who graduates from college and Mrs. Johnson and Maggie both bear witness to Dee’s change. As Dee is trying to embrace the modern culture in the twentieth century. Thus, in Alice Walker’s story, Mrs. Johnson’s perspective changes at the end, at first favoring DeeRead MoreEveryday Use By Alice Walker Analysis1538 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Everyday Use† Historical Criticisms explored the disconnection that people can sometimes have depending on their education. Alice Walker successfully shows the disconnection by comparing two ends of the spectrum of generation. Taking the historical context, it plays a major role in the way this short story is viewed. It was a time where people of color had a different and difficult experience ge tting an education. When the narrator was talking about having an education it was important because sheRead MoreAnalysis Of Everyday Use By Alice Walker1826 Words   |  8 Pagesculture is something that shapes and tells others who you are. For example, in Alice Walker’s short story â€Å"Everyday Use† you are introduced to Mrs. Johnson and two other characters that are loose portrayals of Walker in her younger and older periods of life (Obaid). The first one being Maggie who is depicted as her younger more walled self and the other being Dee an older version of Walker who lightly symbolizes Walkers later beliefs through some of the actions she takes in the story (Obaid). As theRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Alice Walker s Everyday Use2414 Words   |  10 PagesTulsi Rizal Prof. Mary Huffer Eng122 24 April 2016 Critical Analysis of Alice Walker’s â€Å"Everyday Use† Alice Walker, most revered African American writer of the present time was born on 9th February 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She started her career as a social worker/activist, followed by teaching and and being a writer. She has won many awards for her fantastic social and literary works. Everyday use† was published in 1973, when African Americans were struggling to revive their original African culture