The Use Of Fire In 'Everyday Use'

After reading the short story, “Everyday Use” you will notice the use of fire throughout the story. In this story the older sister, who is educated and intelligent, comes to visit her mother and younger sister. The short story expresses lots of imagery of a fire throughout the story. A younger child might think a fire is scary; however, a prescribed fire is a good thing. Prescribed burning is a controlled fire that helps the ecosystem by improving habitats for animals and reducing the chances for wild fire.
The first use of fire in the story was when the old house burned down. The house fire happened about ten or twelve years ago the mother believed. The story explained the new house they built was like the old house, but with a few changes. The story states, “It is three rooms, just like the one that burned, expect the roof is tin; they don’t make shingle roofs any more. There are no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides, like portholes on a ship, but not round and not squared, with rawhide holding the shutters up on the outside” (493). This quote explains the old house was valued; however, the new house has some improvements, like the tin roof.
The second use was when Dee, the older sister, wears a yellow organdy dress
One good example that a fire helps the environment is the improvement of habitats for wildlife. According to the University of Florida, “by periodically burning areas, habitats are returned to more open and diverse plant communities and, as post-fire recovery proceeds, these habitats benefit those original wildlife populations by providing the food and structural components they require” (Main and Tanner). Another good example would be the decreasing of wild fires. Wild fires are uncontrolled and they burn everything in their way. Both examples would better the ecosystem and increase the wildlife