A Literary Analysis Of The Story 'Everyday Use'
Christian Lima
03/19/2013
Everyday Use Analysis
In the story “Everyday Use,” Dee, otherwise known as Miss Wangero is portrayed as the “bitch” in the family because of an old “rag” that’s been haunting her family for years. Mama and Maggie, who are overly obsessed with this quilt, fail to realize what her daughter is accomplishing outside their fantasy world and instead live their lives with the bare minimum.
“In real-life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” (Walker, p.48) This is the real mama and her hobby is to day dream; “Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort. Out of a dark and soft-seated limousine I am ushered into a bright room filled with many people.” Throughout this story, which is narrated by Mama herself, she portrays herself as an old school person who is fine living with the simple things in life. If she was so pleased with her living conditions she wouldn’t go about her day, dreaming things like this. In reality she indeed desires some of the success her …show more content…
“What don’t I understand?” I wanted to know. “Your heritage,” she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it.”’ (Walker p.59) Dee’s comments towards Maggie and Mama ties into the heritage she wants them to forget. Dee sees the opportunity that African Americans have that they didn’t have in the past. As a caring sister she wants Maggie to realize her opportunity and make something of herself. “’Take one of two of the others,” I said to Dee. But she turned without a word and went out.’ (Walker p.59) Dee didn’t want any quilt the quilt they grew emotional on. She considered her ancestors quilt priceless because it served as a ball chain attached to her sisters
03/19/2013
Everyday Use Analysis
In the story “Everyday Use,” Dee, otherwise known as Miss Wangero is portrayed as the “bitch” in the family because of an old “rag” that’s been haunting her family for years. Mama and Maggie, who are overly obsessed with this quilt, fail to realize what her daughter is accomplishing outside their fantasy world and instead live their lives with the bare minimum.
“In real-life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” (Walker, p.48) This is the real mama and her hobby is to day dream; “Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort. Out of a dark and soft-seated limousine I am ushered into a bright room filled with many people.” Throughout this story, which is narrated by Mama herself, she portrays herself as an old school person who is fine living with the simple things in life. If she was so pleased with her living conditions she wouldn’t go about her day, dreaming things like this. In reality she indeed desires some of the success her …show more content…
“What don’t I understand?” I wanted to know. “Your heritage,” she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it.”’ (Walker p.59) Dee’s comments towards Maggie and Mama ties into the heritage she wants them to forget. Dee sees the opportunity that African Americans have that they didn’t have in the past. As a caring sister she wants Maggie to realize her opportunity and make something of herself. “’Take one of two of the others,” I said to Dee. But she turned without a word and went out.’ (Walker p.59) Dee didn’t want any quilt the quilt they grew emotional on. She considered her ancestors quilt priceless because it served as a ball chain attached to her sisters