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"Everyday Use" Response

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"Everyday Use" Response
“Everyday Use” Response

This story seems to be about how Dee has changed drastically from the way she was raised. Maggie, her younger sister, has always been envious of Dee because she feels as if she had life easy and everything was handed to her. And with Maggie’s scars from the fire, that doesn’t help her low self-esteem either. Mama also having issues with her appearance, but accepting it. Saying “My fat keeps me hot in zero weather.” and describing herself in a masculine manner. Dee has more confidence and is more assertive. Dee seems to have hated where she came from so much that she felt the need to change her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to distance herself from the simplicity of where she was raised. Her mother is willing to learn and accept her change, but to a certain extent. I feel as if she doesn’t wasn’t to give Wangero the blankets because she would much rather them have a use to Maggie than be hung up for show. They were something that Maggie quilted with Grandma Dee before she had past. Wangero, doesn’t understand the significance they have to Maggie and her mother. She wants them just to show off to other people where her ancestors are from. And I can understand that, wanting to be proud of who you are and where your family has come from. But Wangero doesn’t realize that there are other ways to represent who you are and where you have come from. Why doesn’t she try and make quilts herself? Why doesn’t she try and learn from Maggie how to quilt? That would be a bonding experience for them and she would also be able to get what she wanted. I can definitely relate to the way Maggie feels though. Being a younger sister myself, I have always felt like I’m in the shadows of my sister and her success. Lack of self-esteem is hard to overcome.
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