Comparing Maggie and Dee in Everyday Use by Alice Walker...

Portia Salvant Dr.Y.Sims Sophomore Seminar English 251-02 25 September 2012 Embracing Heritage The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker, the story is about two sisters and a mother. Despite the family being poor, the mother works hard to provide for the both of her daughters. Dee is the eldest daughter and despises where she came from. Dee later on gains an education, attends college, and obtains a degree. In the story she is going through an identity crisis and changes her name to Wanegro. On the other hand, Maggie is a shy young girl. At such a young age, she is still suffering from a tragic event. Maggie is intimidated by Dee; solely since Dee carries many accomplishments and her appearance. Soon after, Dee remembers the†¦show more content†¦Throughout the story Mama made it seem as if Wanergo had an outgoing personality and that she always got what she wanted. Mama even says that Maggie â€Å"thinks her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that â€Å"no† is a word the world never learned to say to her† (pg.64). Mama made Maggie o ut to have a very shy personality, due to how ashamed she was of the way her burn scars made her look. Wanergo wanted to go to a good school in Augusta so her mother, along with the church, raised the money to send her to college. Maggie, on the other hand, would seem like the type to go to school in the same place she grew up in. Everyone is raised within a culture with a set of customs and morals handed down by those generations before them. Most individual’s view and experience identity in different ways. During history, different ethnic groups have struggled with finding their place within society. In the mid-nineteen hundreds, African Americans faced a great deal of political and social discrimination based on the tone of their skin. After the Civil Rights Movement, many African Americans no longer wanted to be identified by their African American lifestyle, so they began to practice African culture by taking on African hairdos, African-influenced clothing, and adopting African names. By turning away from their roots, many African Americans embraced a culture that was not inherited, thus putting behind the unique and significant characteristicsShow MoreRelatedThe Disconnection By Alice Walker1722 Words   |  7 Pages In Everyday Use Historical Criticisms explores the disconnection that people can sometimes have depending on their education. Alice Walker successfully shows the disconnection by comparing two ends of the spectrum of generation. Taking the historical context it plays a major role in the way this short story is viewed. It was a time where people of color had a different and difficult experience getting an education. When the narrator was talking about having an education it was important becauseRead MoreEveryday Use Literary Analysis Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pagesthe short story called â€Å"Everyday Use,† by Alice Walker, the mother daughter conflict theme is portrayed throughout the whole story. The oldest daughter Dee constantly believes that she is better than the rest of the family causing a family feud about who gets the cherished quilt. Dee has always been on a pedestal over her family and she soon finds out that it is no longer the case. Once she finds this out co nflict arises. The biggest conflict lies between Mama and Dee. This is clearly illustratedRead MoreEssay on Alice Walkers Everyday Use1658 Words   |  7 PagesAlice Walkers Everyday Use In the short story â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker, the author portrays opposing ideas about one’s heritage. Through the eyes of two daughters, Dee and Maggie, who have chosen to live their lives in very different manners, the reader can choose which character to identify most with by judging what is really important in one’s life. In Dee’s case, she goes out to make all that can of herself while leaving her past behind, in comparison to Maggie, who stays back withRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Maggie Johnson in Everyday Use by Alice Walker1498 Words   |  6 Pagesand aspirations of the two, as Alice Walker drew portraits of three women in a family in Everyday Use. Maggie Johnson was the youngest of the two daughters, and her older sister Dee had gone to college and hadn t been home in over a decade. Maggie stayed at her mother s side, to make a life for herself that seemed suitable for her. In this story, Maggie is a fragile young woman, however a strong character that is opposite of her sister Dee, who underestimates Maggie for the person she is. The storyRead MoreEveryday Use By Alice Walker Analysis1538 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Everyday Use† Historical Criticisms explored the disconnection that people can sometimes have depending on their education. Alice Walker successfully shows the disconnection by comparing two ends of the spectrum of generation. Taking the historical context, it plays a major role in the way this short story is viewed. It was a time where people of color had a different and difficult experience getting an education. When the narrator was talking about having an education it was important because sheRead MoreAlice Walkers Everyday Use Essay1140 Words   |  5 PagesEveryday Use In Alice Walkers story Everyday Use she uses the mother to narrate the story. Through humorous comments, the mother paints a picture of what she is thinking, and allows the audience to see her as she is, and not as the world and those around her perceive her to be. Specifically the mother describes the characters appearance, and actions, as well as offers analogies, such as mothers on T.V. To support her view of reality, or how things really were, in her opinion. As the storyRead MoreThe Educational and Race Issue on Everyday Use1745 Words   |  7 PagesSemester Take Home Test : Everyday Use Auliya Atika F. Auliya Atika F. Mr. Gindho Rizano M.Hum Prose II May 24, 2012 Final Task Examination The Educational and Race Issue in Everyday Use Everyday Use is a part of the short story collection In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Woman (1973) by Alice Walker (Wikipedia). Alice Walker is an African – American blooded who often made issues about African – American itself mostly in her works . Everyday Use is one of her outstandingRead MoreComparisson of Mother Tounge and Everyday Use1417 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Mother Tongue† and Alice Walkers â€Å"Everyday Use† both share similar traits in their writings of these two short stories. â€Å"Mother Tongue† revolves around the experiences Tan and her mother had due to her mothers English speaking limitations, she also revolves her story around the relationship of a mother and daughter. Alice walker on the other hand writes a story narrated by â€Å"Mama† the mother of two daughters Maggie and Dee and explains the conflicting relationship she has with Dee, both writers similarlyRead MoreSymbolism and Theme in Everyday Use1641 Word s   |  7 PagesThe short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker differentiates between a fake and a real heritage. To illustrate her point she uses one family consisting of a mother and her two daughters and the way each of them views their ancestry and heritage. Through the behavior of these three people Walker is able to clearly show the little things that separate a real heritage from the assumed fake mask. During the time of many positive changes to the lives of black people across the America, the author illustratesRead MoreEveryday Use By Alice Walker1447 Words   |  6 PagesAbout â€Å"Everyday Use† The conflict in the story is centered around the clash between the two worlds with which Walker s character Dee is endued. Dee increasingly accuses her heritage of the ideas and rhetoric of the new Black Pride movement. Walker weaves the theme of African cultural nationalism with a descriptive conflict immersed in family issues. On another level, Alice Walker offers a unique look at the struggling African-American woman to find both a personality and voice from the shadows of