Alice Walker’s Everyday Use

Alice Walker’s “ Everyday Use        
The  Lost of Heritage        

Walt Disney states that “Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.” In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”, the protagonist apprehends the significance of ethnic heritage, implying that children should value their heritage as it is pass down. The story focuses on the lives of two sisters named Maggie and Dee;but they grew up under the same circumstances. They have constructed two very different person with different viewpoints.  

                The story begins with Ms. Johnson in the yard awakes on her daughter's arrival from college in Augusta, Georgia. As Ms. Johnson is waiting for Dee to come fantasies about her and Dee beginning reunited on a talk show. She was one out of the few in her family that was sent to college through the help of her mother and her community. “I never had an education myself. After the second grade the school was closed down.” (Walker 1313) Dee attending to school causes her to have a bigger gap between her mother and sister in education level. When Dee arrives, she appears with her male college friend Hakim-a-barber. Her mother see her approaching in a bright yellow dress. “A dress so loud it hurts my eyes. There are yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun.” (Walker 1314) She also had on gold earring hanging down her shoulders with dangling bracelets. Dee's’ hair are in two long pigtails that are roped like lizard putted behind her ears. Dee attire shows as if she want to be a part of the African or Muslim culture rather than her own. It is unclear if Hakim-a-barber and she are dating because she does not shows any affection towards him. It is mention in the story that Dee years ago was left by a man who he ended up marrying another girl.

                            By Dee not showing emotions shows how strong she wants to be again and wants to be independent without anyone help. “She is determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts.”(Walker 1313) Dee ever since she was young had a personality of a upper class. Which shows how different she is from her family members since they are from the lower class.  “Dee wanted nice things.”(Walker 1313).Dee tells her family that has decided to change her name. She changes her name because she did not want to be named after the people who oppressed her. She changes her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. “I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after people who oppress me.”(Walker 1315) This is an example of her not appreciating her culture

Furthermore, she is trying to claim her surroundings. She knows that she is named after her aunt, grandmother, and many people down her generation. She does not want to associate herself with her families past and does not understand the importance of her family history. When Dee is inside her mother’s house she found things which catches her attention. She finds a butter churn made by uncle that she want to keep it to decoration. Basically her purpose of taking pictures of some of the items and having them were for show. Dee states “I can use the churn top as a centerpiece for the alcove table.”(Walker 1316)

Dee was always worried on how people perceived her and her surroundings. She wanted to be known as the girl who owned nice and valuable items. She was never the type to have any friends. Maybe perhaps she did this because she wanted more friends. Maggie states “Mamma, when did Dee ever have any friends?” (Walker 1314) As she is looking around in her mother truck she finds handmade quit that contains cloth from different generation and even found a cloth from the Civil War. Her mother already inform her that she promised Maggie the quilt. Dee becomes very upset about that and says “Maggie would be backwards enough to put them to everyday use.” (Walker 1317) Dee was actually offer the quilt before she went away to college and she told her mom that it is old fashion and that she does not want it.Their mother feels like Maggie would have a more appreciation towards the quilt and will be able to repair it if anything happens.