Character Analysis: Everyday Use By Alice Walker
Different People Represent Different Things
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, two sisters named Maggie and Dee are characterized through the eyes of their mother. Nevertheless, Maggie and Dee are both sisters, they are incompatible with how they act. This shows they’re two disparate people. When Dee comes home to visit her mother and sister, a conflict emerges over two antique quilts that were handed down from Grandmother Dee. This conflict reveals how Maggie and Dee have very different ideas on how to preserve their heritage.
Maggie and Dee never really had a good relationship with each other. Maggie is the timid and anxious one. In the beginning, Maggie and her mother wait for Dee to come and visit. Whenever Dee is around, Maggie tends to feel intimidated by her. Maggie always eyes her sister with envy and awe.“Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes” (Walker 315).
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She has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Dee feels that her name came from slavery and wants to distance herself from that part of her past. Dee says, I couldn't bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me” (318). This makes no sense because she was named after her aunt and her grandmother who did nothing to oppress her. Dee probably feels this way because she grew up impoverished and resented having to do without things. Momma observed that ¨Dee wanted nice things.¨ (316)
In this story, both sisters really wanted the antique quilts that Grandma Dee had made. However, they wanted it for different reasons. Dee only wanted the quilts to show off how nice it was. She is very careless of the quilts and thinks nothing of them. Maggie wanted the quilts for affectionate reasons. Mama realized that Maggie deserved the quilts more than Dee. The quilts were an important part of their heritage. They were very invaluable to the family. Maggie knew the true meaning of their heritage and Dee
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587 Words | 3 PagesUnfortunately, Mama has promised them to Maggie. Dee becomes disappointed and says, “Maggie would be
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1052 Words | 5 PagesMaggie is also oppressed by society and Dee, and, though to a further degree than her mother, her view of herself attacks her equality compared to the rest of the world. The subject is immediately introduced. The story begins with Maggie and her mother waiting for Dee. They waste their time in order to be available to Dee as soon as Dee
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524 Words | 3 PagesThe narrator and her children feel the quilts symbolize generations of war and poverty that their family endured over the years. On the other hand, not all family members share the same appreciation for the quilts. Adopting a different culture after going to college the oldest daughter, Dee, appreciates the quilt for being part of her legacy. She can't believe that the quilt was handmade. "These are all pieces of dresses Grandma used to wear.
Everyday Use Literary Analysis Essay
634 Words | 3 PagesEveryday Use Literary Analysis “Maggie will be nervous until her sister goes. ”(Pg.50 line7) This is quote from the story Everyday Use by Alice Walker. The story revolves around a girl called Dee, her mom and sister Maggie. They have different opinions on different subjects especially relating to heritage.
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610 Words | 3 PagesCharacterization in “Everyday use” In “Everyday Use” Alice Walker creates the characters of Mom, Maggie, and Dee in order to explore the appreciation and values of African American culture and what it stands for. The story grows around one daughter Dee coming back home to visit her family. As one is introduced to the characters in “Everyday Use”, it becomes noticeable that the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, are very different. Maggie is portrayed as a homely and ignorant girl, while Dee is portrayed as a beautiful and educated woman.
Character Analysis Of Dee Kemanjo In Everyday Use By Alice Walker
664 Words | 3 PagesShe doesn 't know how hard life is with her sister and mother. Dee only cares about what she wants and she talks down on her family. She believes her sister could not use the quilts in a way she thought they should be used. " Maggie can 't appreciate these quilts!" she said.
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1561 Words | 7 PagesThese quilts are a ways of honoring her African American heritage and to be given these was very significant in their culture. For once Dee sees the historical background because of the stitching and material used, but doesn’t find any use in using them. Dee is going to try and convince her mom to let her keep the quilts, when Dee says, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” (Walker 721) and “You just will not understand. The point these quilts, these quilts!”
A Comparison Of Maggie And Dee In Everyday Use By Alice Walker
1026 Words | 5 PagesThe comparison of characters is something an author allows us to do while reading a story, by telling us about the characters’ looks, their personalities, their lifestyles, and also the traits that may describe a character. “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker, two characters named Maggie and Dee had a few things in common and many differences from each other. The characters Maggie and Dee, also known as “Wanergo,” are sisters who compete on who inherits the family heirlooms. The story is told from the mother’s (Mama’s) point of view.
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721 Words | 3 PagesMaggie has a very bad relationship with her bigger sister Dee with jealousy and hatred. Mama always thinks that Maggie lives an unfair life but Maggie never said that. “Maggie asked me mama when Dee ever had friends” (Walker, 317, 14), this quote shows how Maggie is jalousie from Dee, actually dee has friends. When Maggie sees stuff she doesn’t like she hides it and doesn’t talk but when she knew that Dee wanted to take the quilt that mama promised to give her she dropped the plates and smashes the kitchen door very hard.
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809 Words | 4 PagesShe loves them for the way they look. Mama, on the other hand, views the things from her mother as artifacts. She loves the items more than how they look. She admires the quilts because of their everyday use. Transformations take place between these characters.
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1338 Words | 6 Pages“Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts! She said. “she’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.” (walker). This shows that dee really wants the quilts but not for the reason her mother wants.
Dee Vs. Maggie In Everyday Use By Alice Walker
457 Words | 2 PagesIn the short story, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, their are two distinct characters who are very different from each other. These characters have many different motivations, personalities, and points of views with respect to preserving their heritage. The narrator, Mama, looks at them both with different views. Dee and Maggie are two completely different people. Dee has different motivations than Maggie.
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636 Words | 3 PagesMama wanted nothing but the best for her; she did everything in her power to get her to college because she wanted her to have a better life than she did. However, Dee used her education against Mama and Maggie in efforts to present her culture in a “better” way. Changing her name to Wangero because her birth name “Dee”, as she informed them “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people oppress me” (Walker 27). In contrast, Mama and Maggie never changed the way they dressed “African descent” or change their names to portray their true
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498 Words | 2 PagesShe deliberately avoids her and her new sense of self-righteousness. Maggie's lack of exposure to society makes her weak in her sister's eyes and vulnerable to her sister's pretentious attitude toward what is owed to Maggie. Dee disturbs the peace by proclaiming, "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts!” It is clear that Dee believes that she deserves to receive whatever she wants, yet Maggie never fights for what she is already entitled
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