Everyday Use by Alice Walker

Introduction

Culture is something picked up from one generation to next, not suddenly acquired. Making use of culture in everyday life shows a dedication and understanding to the culture. Maggie, the younger daughter, was an example that heritage passes from one generation to another through a learning and experience connection, while her sister misunderstood the impact of heritage and only considered it to be in material objects. This conflict was shared through the mother, and the reader was forced to look in themselves for their beliefs in order to side with one or the other.

Discussion

Like many stories, Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" contains opening and closing segments which are in sharp contrast to each other. The different styles in which the first and last portions of the story represent the significant changes experienced by Maggie and her mother. These changes, brought on by a brief visit from Maggie's older, and worldlier sister, Dee.

The opening scene in "Everyday Use" presents a vivid picture of Maggie and her mother's yard. It also shows the extreme fondness the two rural women have for the yard. Maggie's mother uses the word "comfortable"(88) to describe the yard and likens it to a living room. Also described in great detail is Maggie's demeanor. She is depicted as "nervous", "homely" and "ashamed"(88). Great weight is place on her burn scars, which run down her arms and legs. The mother, also the narrator, sees herself as being more masculine than feminine. She thinks of herself as being tough and impervious to inclement weather. However, admits that she could not look a "...strange white man in the eye"(89). It is clear, that both the mother and Maggie are acutely aware that they are far different than Dee. The women seem intimidated and even envious of ...