Symbols In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

Dee believes her family is not intelligent enough to understand their family heritage and thinks she would be better off with the quilts and use them as an art piece. Alice Walker uses symbolism, theme, and metaphors in her story “Everyday Use.” The first pieces of symbolism in the story

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. Mama becomes enraged that her daughter is so condescending and self-centered.

Because of some statistics about women 's work, Hekker views her work as unique work which needs special care. However, the author mentions that people view her as an outsider, shamed, and out-of-date person because of her occupation. Hekker adds that other newer statistics put her hope down as the number of housewife mother is decreasing. Thus, the author clarifies that she must be treated as an important and unique creature because she is going to be one of the few housewives. Hekker concludes by mentioning that being a housewife is a heroic job if and only if the works that a housewife does is for children, husband, and house of someone else.

Dee is educated, worldly, and deeply determined, not generally allowing her desires to be thwarted. When Mama won't let her have the quilts to display, she becomes furious. She claims that Mama and Maggie don't understand their heritage,but she is the one overlooking the important aspects of her family history. The conflict is in the different points of view regarding the value and importance of objects, preservation of history and everyday use. Mrs Johnson and Maggie have a different

The short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan explains a mother and daughter relationship that has many differences within a conflict in the story. The narrator demonstrates that the mother and the daughter do not agree with the same aspect on life. Since the mother wants her daughter to be perfect, the daughter refuses to make her mother’s wishes come true. Her mother wanted the narrator to become the perfect traditional daughter, but the narrator’s differences triggered with her mother. An indication from the story is, “Unlike my mother, I did not believe I could be anything I wanted to be, I could only be me” (137).

It is important because this shows that Aunt Baba is loving and cares for her own, not like Niang and Adeline’s siblings. Another example is on page 121, Aunt Baba says “One day, the world will recognize your talent, and we'll leave them and live together in our own home. Just the two of us.” This means that Aunt Baba loves Adeline so much she wishes she could spend more time with her even though Adeline has to go to boarding school. It is important because this is the last time Adeline will see Aunt Baba ever again. Who needs the other the most?

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.

“They were women who idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.” (pg 40) Edna finds the role of a mother being lackluster and only impeding her from awakening her inner consciousness. She realizes it would only bring her imprisonment and the lack of independence. She denies the role of a mother to carry out duties and responsibilities for her family rather pursue her dreams she longed for. While at Grand Isle while sitting on the front porch, Adele is sewing winter clothes for her children, although winter is far ahead. It shows her loving care toward her children.

In the short story, “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker creates a conflict between Maggie and Dee for the belongings made by their relatives whether they should be kept to use in their house or kept to admire as antiques with Dee to last longer. Walker made items to have symbolism to be used as an everyday thing, but with Dee returning from college she believes she should keep items from being demolished and placed as an item in a museum for observation of her heritage. Walker in the story shows how Maggie and her mother use the quilt as a tradition that has been passed down by every generation in their family by putting them to use. The mother’s purpose towards the quilt is to pass it down by teaching how to quilt so that it could be quilted if

It represented the past as it was not only hand made but it also contained scraps of dresses that was worn by the grandmother and even great grandmother and a piece of uniform worn by great grandfather who served in the army. The quilt gives a true connection with the past and the heritage. The mother wanted to pass the tradition to her younger daughter by giving the quilt but Dee, her eldest daughter wanted it for herself, but mother did not give it to her.” I promised to give them quilts to Maggie, for when she married John Thomas” (Walker). The story also shows the struggle over tradition as Dee changes the name to Wangero,” I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me”