Lost Heritage
By contrasting the family characters in "Everyday Use," Walker illustrates the mistake made by some people of placing the significance of heritage solely in material objects. Walker presents Mama and Maggie, the younger daughter, as an example that heritage, in both knowledge and form, passes from one generation to another through learning and experience. To them, heritage is something that a person lives, and is made up of family members, and the knowledge that gets passed down from them. However, Dee, the eldest daughter, represents a misconception of heritage, or a false heritage. She believes her heritage lies in her African roots from the distant past. She does not think that her family is a part of her heritage, only the objects they possess. During Dee's visit to Mama and Maggie, the contrast of the characters becomes a conflict. Dee misplaces the significance of her true heritage in her desire for what she believes is her racial heritage. Mama and Maggie symbolize the connection between generations and the true heritage that passes between them. Mama and Maggie continue to live together happily in their humble home. Mama is a robust woman who does what is needed to maintain the upkeep of the land
Dee sees her heritage as material possessions and of nothing else. She takes, almost without asking, some of the hand-made items of her mother's such as the churn top which she will use "as a centerpiece for the alcove table" (495). Dee associates the items with her heritage now, but thought nothing of them in her youth as when the first house burnt down. Dee's quest for her heritage is external, wishing to have these various items in order to display them in her home. Dee wants the items because she perceives each to have value, as shown in the dialog between Dee and Mama about the quilts after dinner. Dee's valuing of the quilts conflicts with Mama's perception of them. Dee considers the quilts to be priceless because they are hand-stitched, not machined. Dee plans to display the quilts or "Hang them" in her house. Unlike Maggie who would use them or put them to "everyday use." However, Mama promised to give them quilts to Maggie when she got married. Mama knows there is a respect for heritage in Maggie so she feels that Maggie deserves the quilts. Dee tells her mother that she does not understand her heritage when in fact it is Dee who does not know her heritage. Dee believes heritage to be static, or to be a quilt on the wall or the churn in the alcove. Dee knows the items are hand-made, but she does not know the history or the importance of the people behind the items. However, Mama and Maggie do possess the knowledge and the respect of the people who made them to go along with the objects. Contrasting with Mama and Maggie, Dee seeks to erase her tru
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Approximate Word count = 1066
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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