Alice Walker Everyday Use Analysis

The author writes with cyclical elements to show that mothers and daughters may be more alike than they may seem The theme of Marriage and Divorce is cyclical because two of the daughters get divorced, and one has great deal of problems in her marriage. In The Joy Luck Club, the daughters start learning how to stand up for themselves to their partners. Rose Hsu Jordan finally tells her soon to be ex-husband that she wants their old house, and she is willing to fight for herself (Tan 196). Lena St. Clair tells her husband Harold that she isn’t happy with their marriage (Tan 164).

Later on in the novel she becomes more aware of her parents disappointment with her spots saying 'You just don 't understand! The first thing Mummy looks at when I come home each term. How can she present a daughter with spots? Four daughters successfully married off and now the last one has to get spots. I think she 'd rather I ran off with a footman '.

The story has a conflict that is related to opposition. The narrator disagrees with what her mother wants her to be, since the narrator felt that her mother was controlling her for years. For instance, the mother in the story suggests that her daughter would become the perfect girl and she would become famous. The traditional daughter relates to the American icon, “Shirley Temple”. Furthermore, the narrator goes through a rough time during the story because her mother feels like she can be good at something and stick to it.

Anne is so accustomed to having to be the perfect daughter and ‘trophy’ wife that she knows no different. Later in the novel, Anne becomes more aware of her parents disappointment saying to her friends 'You just don 't understand! The first thing Mummy looks at when I come home each term. How can she present a daughter with spots? Four daughters successfully married off and now the last one has to get spots.

Nanny is successfully able to convince her granddaughter through her own traumatic experiences and make her feel “sympathy” as she tells Janie she doesn’t want her life to be spoiled like her own life was. At first, Janie refuses to marry Logan Killicks. Nanny being the older one, defends herself by saying “put me down easy” since she can no longer care for Janie and only her wish is for Janie to get married and be protected from the dangers she and her own daughter faced. By calling herself a “cracked plate” Nanny further elucidates that she went through many hardships in her own life and wants to do the right thing for her granddaughter by

Although Connie’s sister is older than she is and still lives at home, Connie’s parents are constantly wishing she would be more like her sister. If there is one thing Connie and her sister have in common, it is that they both are allowed to go out with their friends without any questions

Ms. Johnson then introduces a new character who will be arriving at the home shortly, Dee. She is Ms. Johnson’s other daughter who is described as having a less than ideal relationship with her family. Dee is described by her mother as independent and fearless, differing from her sister, Maggie, who is portrayed as awkward and less attractive than her sister. When Dee arrives, she is wearing a flamboyant dress and looks put together. Ms. Johnson displays shock when she sees her daughter, and is even more shocked to hear that Dee has changed

When Dee (Wangero) began taking things that belonged to her mother in order to decorate her new house, the mood changed quickly from bewilderment to acrimony when Dee finally went too far. The sole purpose for Dee’s visit was to procure specific items belonging to her mother. Mom was initially perplexed as to why Dee would want the churn top and dasher and quickly incensed over Dee’s insistence that she was the only one capable of properly caring for the quilts. Wangero is astounded that her mother is going to give Maggie the blankets to be used for everyday use, believes that the quilts need to be preserved, and tells her mother that she doesn’t understand her own culture.

These two sisters have grown together all through their life’s, creating a strong bound, and the fact that her family and a “old guy” is taking away her sister is something she can’t stand. In the end Nea believes that she is saving Sourdi from Mr.Chhay and her mother. However what Nea does not understand in all her youth and idealism , is that sourdi does not want to be saved: She willfully accepts her fate and her marriage to Mr.Chhay because she finds financial stability and a secure future.

In the story Everyday Use, there is conflict between the two main characters Maggie and Dee. The two sisters are arguing over their Grandma 's quilt. Maggie feels that she deserves the quilt because she will cherish it and make great use out of it, unlike her sister who only wants to frame it in order to remember her heritage. Dee is not used to being told "no" and she has always got everything she has ever asked for, which is why she puts up a fight for the quilt. Dee then goes on to explain to her family on page 172, how she is changing her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo.

In the short story, "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, two sisters named Maggie and Dee are raised in a shack house, yet only one of the sisters values their humble beginnings. The eldest sister, Dee, is pretentious, Materialistic, and has no respect for her family. For example, Dee says, '"Maggie can 't appreciate these quilts!" she said. "She 'd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use." '

Connie’s mother wants her to be more like her sister. Connie by not feeling wanted in her family search for love somewhere else. Connie’s mother and busy father is wrong for not loving their daughter how they should because if they did she wouldn’t /t be looking for love somewhere else. I think she wishes her mother was death because her mother doesn’t stop comparing her to her sister.

Janie holds anger for her grandma because of the grandmother’s decision, but eventually, after she matures, Janie realizes that Nanny was merely doing it

Dee and Maggie’s behavior did not change throughout the story, but Mama’s attitude proves to be drastically transformed by the end. As Dee is introduced towards the beginning, the author implies that Maggie thinks “her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that ‘no’ is a word the world never learned to say to her”. However, while Dee and Mama argue over the quilts, Mama claims, “I did something I never had done before: hugged maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands”. This action from Mama distinctly epitomizes her denial towards Dee. Mama’s rejection perfectly exemplifies her change, because in retrospect, Dee is portrayed as a girl who never had to think twice about

Heritage; is a great value that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is of great value and although it can be worth very little to other people, to your family it is priceless. Alice Walker wrote the story, “Everyday Use”, to show an importance of Mama’s and Maggie’s heritage. There is also Dee who has that heritage too, but she thinks that they of no good use and think they are not important. Also in “Everyday Use “Mama and Maggie have Family Conflicts with Dee.