Essay about College: African American and Dee

Submitted By ceraoliveira

Words: 394

Pages: 2

Open Document

A Deep Analysis of Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”
Even though the title of Alice Walker’s short story “Everday Use” comes from the different intentions for the use of the quilts, I want to talk about all three characters contrasting ideas about their heritage and identities in Mama, Maggie, and Dee. The story takes place in the Deep South and is narrated in first person by the mother. The story starts off with the mother waiting patiently on Dee’s visit back home to see her mother and sister. The difference and similarities in all three ladies is what makes this short story one of the best that I have ever read.
As stated, the mother, Ms Johnson, is the narrator of the short story. She describes herself in the beginning as a big-boned woman that can do many things similar to a man. She also states that she was not educated pass the 2nd grade because her school closed down in 1927, and often has Maggie to read to her at times. She states that in 1927, “colored people didn’t ask as many questions as they do now.” Though it is not stated, it is believed that the reasoning behind the school closing was due to segregation going on at the time. Before Dee arrives, she envisions and often dreamed the return of her daughter to that similar to a television show, where Dee embraces her and is ecstatic to see her. She comes off as a strong African American woman that is very satisfied with her life and her children.
Next is Maggie. Maggie comes off as a very shy person and is not as

Everyday Use Identity

Dee Self identity has been a prevalent issue within the African American culture since it was stripped from our ancestors decades ago. It has and still is common for African Americans to delve back into the past to gain understanding about their history, heritage, and culture. In Alice Walker’s, “Everyday Use” utilizes the accounts of the protagonist Dee while she searches for personal meaning and a stronger sense of self. In contrast to her sister Maggie, a round character that transforms from…

Words 731 - Pages 3

Alice Walker Heritage

the late 1960 and early 1970s, a time when many African Americans were fighting to control of their social, cultural, and political identity in American society. Alice Walker was a novelist, short story writer, activist, and feminist. Walker tried to portray all this event that was occurring in that moment in the personality of Dee. Dee is portrayed as a hypocrite to his heritage by not understand what their true heritage is. The author shows that Dee does not really have any interest in his family…

Words 795 - Pages 4

too much Essay

The True Meaning of Heritage Alice Walker is well-known for writing about African American culture. Her short story Everyday Use is set in the early 1970s when many struggled to redefine and seized control of their social, cultural, and political identity in American society. Weary of the tragic history of slavery, many looked to their African roots in an effort to reconnect with their past. Like most of Alice Walker works, "Everyday Use" is a story about conflict between characters. The story…

Words 1502 - Pages 7

Everyday Use Heritage Analysis

Alice Walker, she “addresses herself to the problems of African Americans who risk deracination in their quest for personal authenticity” (Cowart). The story main conflict is the struggle over homemade quilts which symbolize understanding of heritage, which is shown through the characters Dee and Maggie who have two different approaches on the word. Dee understanding of the word heritage is erasing American culture and going back to African roots, while Maggie portrays the meaning as preserving thoughts…

Words 448 - Pages 2

Everyday Use Essay

David Zhang Pre-IB English 9B Ms. Brown February 2, 2013 Dee, the Outer Shell of Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo “Be careful of Maggie” I had told Hakim in the car. “She completely detests me.” He assured me that it was alright, as he always did. Oh Hakim, he always understood. He was one of the few that did. Hakim with his hair flowing over his head like the proud mane of a lion. Hakim reminded me of Africa. Of our proud, ancient heritage. It was a shame that my…

Words 1599 - Pages 7

Heritage In Alice Walker's Everyday Use

the arrival of Dee, since she has not come home to visit in quite some time. As they wait in the yard, Dee and her boyfriend, Hakim-a-barber, finally arrive and come to eat dinner. Dee asks Mama if she can take back some of the family heirlooms with her to decorate her house with, but does not realize that the things she wants are still being used in everyday use by her family. As the story progresses, it is present that Mama tried her very best to give Dee a higher education, but Dee tries to forget…

Words 782 - Pages 4

Alice Walker Heritage Analysis

in public. She withdrew from others, but her mother, recognizing her daughter’s gift, put that time to good use as she insisted that Alice continue to read and write. Alice was fortunate to receive a scholarship and have the opportunity to go to college, where she began to…

Words 1547 - Pages 7

Everyday Use Symbolism Essay

helps create meaning and emotion in a story. Metaphors and allegory are literary elements that help writers create symbolism in their literary pieces. In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker tells a story of a mother’s relationship with her two daughters Dee and Maggie. “Everyday Use” tells how mama has to make a choice between her two daughters. Maggie is the youngest of the daughters. Maggie was severely burned in a house fire that left her scared. “Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog…

Words 1405 - Pages 6

Everyday Use Analysis Essay

Ellen Johnson Mr. Roberts AP English 4 13 Apr 2010 Dee: the Sister Who Lost Her Identity Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is a short story about the clash between a mother and daughter. Dee is the child returning home to visit. The visit is not exactly pleasant and ends after a stand-off between her and Mama. Many readers see Mama as finally standing up for her own ideals while also refusing to conform to the rules Dee wishes her to follow. Dee follows different rules of society and religion than…

Words 1685 - Pages 7

Two Ways To Live In America Analysis

you don't always have to follow and believe the culture that you were born into. To begin with,in the short story ‘’Everyday Use'’ by Alice Walker, Maggie and Dee perceive their culture in different ways even though they come from the same one. Maggie feels as if she should keep carrying on her culture and embrace. On the other hand, Dee thinks she should go deeper and embrace the roots of her culture. For instance, ‘’She can have them Mama ,’ she said, like somebody…

Words 915 - Pages 4