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Two Ways To Belong In America Summary

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Key: Veronica Abby Alyssa Maddie

Culture is the way we grow and learn our life lessons. From the food we eat, to the type of music we were raised around; all of this contributes to our culture. All of us grow into culture differently. In some places, women aren’t allowed to attend school because of their different beliefs. In America, it’s mandatory for all children to attend school until you are at least 17. Culture highly affects the way we all live our lives, and view the world.

In the personal essay, “Two Ways to Belong in America” by Bharati Mukherjee, it describes the way America can affect another backgrounds culture. The essay talks about two sisters who move to America and take on completely different lifestyles. Bharati takes on the American culture of wearing blue jeans and t-shirts, marrying a man from North Dakota, and …show more content…

The Two sisters are raised the exact same way, but have two different effects on the way they want to express their now different cultures. Maggie wanted to express her culture in the way that her mother taught it, but Dee wanted to express her culture differently because she wasn’t appreciative of the one she was raised in. Dee was not happy with the farm life; she chose the city life over it. Her family ashamed her as she explains that she changed her name, “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.” (Walker 63). Dee didn’t let her culture decide her life or affect it. She decided to break free and experience other options. She used her culture as a “trophy”, not her background unlike Momma and Maggie. Even though Dee didn’t appreciate her culture, it still affected her views because it caused her to leave and experience a variety of different lifestyles that she could freely

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What Is The Theme Of Two Ways To Belong In America

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Her sister on the other hand holds less enthusiasm for the idea of citizenship. In addition, Mhurkjee uses the term “scapegoating of aliens” to emphasize the unfair treatment immigrants face on a daily basis. This reveals why one of the sisters is more inclined to continue her Indian heritage because America at the time was less accepting of immigrants. The author also uses juxtaposition in an emotional context to put across their opposing perspectives when it comes to the choices that they have made in their lives and their integration into the country. It’s clear emotions play a big part in their stances, for example, when Mira talks with her she says, "I feel used," Mira raged on the phone the other night.

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Culture is the building block for life. It sets society's standards, it sets our own standards, and everything we know is all because of our culture. Culture is a way of thinking, a way of behaving and learning. We express our opinions based upon our beliefs, and define ourselves by what aspects of our culture we choose to show. Culture's impact on someone's perspective of others and the world is greater than its other influencers because it can change how you interact with people, your ability to change, and your opinions of the world.

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While Walker displays how Dee is disrespectful towards her family heritage. Being able to recognize the love from others or your heritage can be difficult at times, but you should never take it for

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Dee has also changed her overall appearance and has recreated a new image for herself by wearing brightly colored clothing and changing her voice. Critic of the story, David Cowart, describes Dee changes, “She now styles and dresses herself according to the dictates of a faddish Africanism and thereby demonstrates a cultural Catch-22: an American who attempts to become an African succeeds only in becoming a phony” (Cowart). She alienates herself from her original culture and values the items from her past

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The story goes beyond these traits to deal mainly with the way in which the two sisters value their heritage. Maggie knows nothing but her heritage, for she has never left home. On the other hand, Dee seems to have

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A Comparison Of Maggie And Dee In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

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Throughout the story Mama describes both of the girls and how she feels about their differences, even though they are sisters and grew up in the same house. Maggie and Dee are different in their

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Dee's Identity In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

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She didn’t like her sister Maggie she also doesn’t like her mom allot and she didn’t like their house. From the main changes Dee made was changing her name. “No mama, she says not Dee, wangero Leewanik kemanjo “(Walker, 318, 25). She also brought her friend with her his name is Hakim-a-barber.

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1276 Words | 6 Pages

In attempts to reconnect with her African roots, Dee has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Dee has also taken an interest in embracing her African heritage and has dressed in traditional African clothes to visit her mother. Her mother knows that Dee’s intentions are not genuine. Worrying more about taking pictures of her mother and collecting items that represent the African culture to take back home, Dee neglects to spend time with her family. Her mother notices that Dee, “Lines up picture after picture of me sitting there in front of the house with Maggie cowering behind me.

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In the essay “Two Ways to Belong in America,” from 50 essays, Bharati Mukherjee contrasts the different views of the United States from two Indian sisters. The author distinguishes her American lifestyle to her sister’s traditional Indian lifestyle. Both sisters grew up in Calcutta, India, moved to America in search of education and work. Bharati adjusts to the American society very quickly, where her sister Mira clings to her Indian traditions more strongly. Despite both sisters living in America, only Bharati is an American citizen, while her sister Mira is not.

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Dee doesn’t truly know what her culture represents, but instead she tries to use everything from college to apply to everyday life. Dee never appreciated her roots as a child, and she still don’t. Mama and Maggie used the churnand dasher daily with care, and all Dee wants to do with the churn and dasher is “think of something artistic to do with it” ( Walker 273.) She sees the churn as a project she can work on; on the other hand Mama and Maggie see it as a churn with a lot of meaning behind it. Maggie and Mama cherish the handmade quilts that were made by Grandma Dee.

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In the story, Dee is presented to the audience as someone who enjoys nice things and “had a style of her own: and knew what style was.” She wears the typical Americanized clothing style common to that time period. However, when she arrives at her family’s home, her family finds that she has completely altered her style: Walker writes in description of Dee, “A dress to the ground, in this hot weather. A dress so loud it hurts my eyes. There are yellow and oranges enough to throw back the light…

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The character Dee represented in Walker 's story shows how easily one can completely depersonalize heritage while showing mannerisms of condescending nature. Dee’s name was in fact passed down from her grandmother and given to her as a symbol of respect for family and fondness for their grandmother. Dee completely oblivious to the nature of her given name simply changes it to what she believes is her authentic African name. “No, Mama,” she says, “Not Dee; Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo!”(492). Displaying the name in boastful temperament and parading it in front of her mother and sister.

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Two Ways To Belong To America Summary

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culture has an vast impact on how we see the world but it's not the only factor, society and what it taught you about the world changes your view on the world drastically. In the story “Two ways to Belong to America” by Bharati Mukherjee, Bharati and her sister move to america. “I am an American citizen and she is not, i am moved that thousands of long-term residents are finally taking oath of citizenship, She is not”. In this example Bharati has taken hold of the American culture so she sees people coming and taking the oath of citizenship as a celebratory merry occasion .

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