everyday use by alice walker short story

In 'Everyday Use', one of the main themes is the concept of heritage. The two daughters, Dee and Maggie, have different understandings of it. Dee wants to take the quilts as artifacts, while Maggie sees them as part of the family's daily use. This shows the clash between a more modern, detached view of heritage and a traditional, practical one.

The main theme in 'Everyday Use' is the complex relationship between heritage and identity. The story shows how different characters view and value their cultural heritage in different ways.

In 'Everyday Use', the quilts symbolize different things to different characters. For Dee, they are a symbol of a more glamorous and showy version of her heritage. She wants to hang them on the wall as if they were art pieces. But for Mama and Maggie, the quilts are symbols of family, love, and the practical side of heritage. They are meant to be used, like how their ancestors used them. The yard in the story also symbolizes the family's connection to the land and their roots. It's a simple, unpretentious place that represents the real, everyday side of their heritage, as opposed to Dee's more idealized and somewhat removed view of it.

The family home itself is a symbol. It's a place full of memories and a connection to the family's roots. It stands in contrast to Dee's new world. While Dee seems to be moving away from it, Maggie is more closely tied to it, highlighting the different attitudes towards family and heritage.

In 'Everyday Use', Alice Walker delves into the complexity of cultural identity and the clash between modern and traditional ways. It's about how we define and appreciate our heritage. The characters' interactions reveal their varying understanding of family history and its significance.

In the end of 'Everyday Use' by Alice Walker, Mama makes a choice that reflects her understanding of true heritage. She hands the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee, emphasizing the importance of practical and lived experience over intellectual claims. This decision causes Dee to storm off, but Mama stands firm in her decision, showing a clear sense of family values.

The key elements include the characters' complex relationships and the importance of heritage. Themes like cultural identity and the value of tradition are prominent.

Yes, Alice Walker often incorporates elements of everyday life in her fiction to explore various themes and issues.

It's not clearly stated in the story. Maybe the name Dee was chosen randomly without being based on a particular person.

It's about a family and their different perspectives on heritage and the value of certain items. The story explores the relationship between a mother and her two daughters.