The Johnson House In Alice Walker's 'Everyday Use'

The shattered “house”
By: Ariella Barishansky It is clear from the text in Alice Walker’s “Everyday use” the Johnson house is a focal point of this short story. (subject) Why does the story focus at great length on their physical house and give lengthy descriptions about it. (question/problem) To answer this question, I think we should look at this specific passage’s descriptions of the house, understand the details on a deeper level and explain the details in correlation to Dee’s relationship with her mother. (approach) The central focus of this story is the relationship Dee has with her family, the events that occur, and the way her family responds and reacts to her in these situations. Familial issues and conflicts is a clear theme through out this
The house symbolically represents the broken and unstable relationship Dee has with her mother. Dee’s broken relationship were her mother is a major theme and focal point in this short story and must have some connection to the lengthy descriptions of the Johnson’s house. From the word choice the author uses in this passage it is clear that Dee and her mother do not have a close relationship. The author quotes, “No doubt when Dee sees it she will want to tear it down. She wrote me once that no matter where we “choose” to live, she will manage to come see us.” From the strong language of the words “no doubt,” it is clear that Dee does not want much to do with her family and will manage to visit them out of daughterly obligations to visit her mother. In addition, Dee says she will never bring friends over to her mother’s house. That is a hurtful and insulting comment to her mother. She is implying that she is ashamed of her mother’s home and does not respect her mother’s