Everyday Use

A detailed Summary of Everyday Use


"Everyday Use" is a short story written by Alice Walker, a black writer born in Georgia. This story appears to take place on a farm during the 1960's. The writer takes us on a journey with the mother as the narrator. She describes the mother in explicit detail and frequently uses colorful adjectives to shape this character. The story will give us glimpses of the antagonist character named "Dee" before we even meet her. This will lead to the plot of the story. The clash between Dee and her mother, who appear to have not seen or talked to each other in quite some time. The mother and daughter begin to socialize and talk about old times until Dee tests her mother's moral beliefs.

This story is told in a first-narrator setting by Dee and Maggie's mother. She begins the story with visual adjectives that greatly describe the setting of their humble house. She notes the floors made of clay and freshly swept so clean that you may see the cracks in it. She further describes the house with three bedrooms and briefly mentions that fact that they once lived in house like this one. That house burned down which would explain the burns to Maggie's legs and arms. The narrator describes the smell of the day subtly by mentioning the breeze


The mother on the hand has had a very difficult and rough life. She accounts the fact that she is a stout woman that is somewhat manly in nature. She has done many things in her life but she not educated. The never made it beyond the second grade. She is a person of color that will not look at a white man in the eye out of fear. However, I get the impression that she could definitely handle her own with any man. She is a woman that can gut a hog and eat the liver of that same hog without hesitation. She grew up on a farm and frequently and effortlessly milk cows until one walloped her some years ago. She also has a kindness about her that is demonstrated with her knowledge of quilting. She was taught to quilt by her mother and frequently quilted with her sister, Dicie. She loves both of her daughters but gives the impression that she has many reservations concerning her oldest daughter, Dee.



Some common words found in the essay are:
Dee Maggie's, Kemanjo Pg, Alice Walker, , maggie mother, pg 91, alice walker, maggie's mother, mother quilts, mother doesn't, quilts wangero, wangero's mother, narrator describes,

Approximate Word count = 1076
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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