Everyday Use
The short story "Everyday Use", written by Alice Walker, is about an African-American mother and her two daughters. The story evolves around one daughter, Dee, coming back home to visit her family. As one is introduced to the characters in "Everyday Use", it becomes apparent that the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, are very different. Maggie is portrayed as a homely and ignorant girl, while Dee is portrayed as a beautiful and educated woman. The story goes beyond these differences, though, 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 no real concept of her roots. Ironically, Dee's outward appearance is that of a proud black woman, but her actions and words show ignorance and shame towards her culture. Alice Walker uses the characterization of Dee to show that heritage is something that one always has inside of them and can not be found in material objects. Mother, the narrator of the story, explains Dee's personality and background. Dee apparently has been running from her poverty stricken past since she was a child. When the Johnson's house burnt down, Dee just stood from afar and watche
Dee's confusion about the true meaning of her heritage is made more obvious as Walker shows the reader Dee's attitude toward items found in her mother's house. Dee admits that she had never appreciated the handmade benches that the family sits on to eat, but she all of a sudden seems to show a keen interest in them. She then looks around the room and decides that she will take the milk churn with her, without even asking her mother if it is okay. Maggie informs her of the name of the relative who made the churn, but Dee is uninterested in the details, telling her sister that her "brain is like an elephants" (Walker896). Dee is uninterested in the facts because she is just planning on displaying the churn as a decoration. Unlike Dee, Mother seems to value the churn for more than its beauty. She touches the worn impressions found on the handle and remembers using the churn to make butter by hand, and how the impression "reflects the effort and determination of those that once used it" (Christian 462). Walker shows how every woman in the story has a different view of the churn. Maggie knows where it came from and Mother has used it in her everyday life, but Dee only knows it is old and comes from her poor mother's house. Dee does not have a true appreciation for the milk churn and only wants it for superficial reasons. "Everyday Use" begins with Mother and Maggie awaiting a visit from Dee. When Dee finally arrives she is not alone, even though she claimed that she would never bring anyone over.. She has brought a gentleman friend with her by the name of Hakim-a-barber, who is Muslim. Dee's dress is flamboyant and her hair is big and black. Even though Dee had once been scornful of the old house, she now seems intrigued by the simple way her mother lives. Dee takes picture after picture of her mother's house using a Polaroid camera. She makes sure that every shot includes the house, Mother, Maggie, and even the cows that are roaming freely around the yard. She puts the camera back in the
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1360
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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