Everyday Use By Alice Walker Definition Of Heritage

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“Everyday Use”: What is the True Definition of Heritage?
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, Mama recounts a visit from Dee—her eldest daughter. Throughout the visit, it is clear that Dee and Mama have vastly different ideas on how one should live. Based on Walker’s description, Mama and Maggie—her youngest daughter—are conservative people and live rather uneventful lives. In contrast, Dee is constantly looking for opportunities to change how she lives. For example, she chose to go to college and reside in a city other than her hometown after graduation. While there are likely many reasons for the difference in life choices between Mama and Dee, oppression is implied as a prominent factor in Mama’s lifestyle choice throughout the text. However—while her lifestyle may not grant the same opportunities as her daughter—Mama has a better sense of what heritage truly means compared to Dee. Walker communicates her definition of heritage mainly through Mama and Dee’s interactions. For instance—shortly after her arrival—Dee insists on taking Mama’s butter churn to “use [the churn top]…as a centerpiece for [her] alcove table...” (659) and will “…think of something artistic to do with the dasher” (659). This thinking shows that these items represent heritage to Dee; that heritage should be something to display. Unlike Dee, Mama has a more …show more content…
Walker is well known for integrating her life experience into her works. For example, Mama could be partially based of off her own mother as they both were raised in oppressive times. Alice’s persona seems to be sprinkled throughout the story in the form of descriptive language. The narrator’s tone throughout the story also mirrors actual quotes from Walker. This knowledge that the story does reflect pieces of reality helps the reader better identify with struggles of oppression and discover the priceless value of family
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