Everyday Use Feminist Analysis

Alice Walker in “Everyday Use” uses the symbolism behind the guilt to demonstrate character perspectives and values. In my primary source “Everyday Use” Dee speculates that Maggie doesn't even admire the quilts as she does, in the short story Dee states on page 320, line 66-67, “‘Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!’” This is an assumption that Dee makes, to make it seem like Maggie doesn't have the amount of appreciation she has for the quilts. In reality, Dee is just being selfish, and not taking the moment to understand why Maggie may want these quilts. Dee’s perspective on this is, she believes that she should have the quilts, and to do so, she will make up things about Maggie.

In secondary source, Kathleen Wilson describes how Maggie holds the quilts close to her heart. This is because her grandmother had owned the quilts before she passed away. These quilts are priceless to Maggie, and she certainly doesn't want Dee to steal them from her. From Maggie's perspective, Dee is being inconsiderate, and only cares about those quilts being hers, and not about what's in Maggie's interest.

Dee, similar to Maggie also holds value to the quilts. However, she goes about a different way of handling it. In my other secondary source, also by Kathleen Wilson, Kathleen expresses that when Dee comes home for a visit

Christine Kerr states “The mother narrator reminisces how Dee always “wanted nice things” even as a tennager.” Throughout Everyday Use, Dee shows a pattern of wanting things, such as her heritage to be shown. This is why Dee changes her last name. Christine Kerr demonstrates how Dee has more than one perspective on things within her family. For example, Dee wants the quilts not just because she thinks her mother and sister don't use them properly, but because she wants to show her heritage, and to own something nicer and maybe has more