A Literary Analysis Of The Story 'Everyday Use'

Christian Lima
03/19/2013
Everyday Use Analysis

In the story “Everyday Use,” Dee, otherwise known as Miss Wangero is portrayed as the “bitch” in the family because of an old “rag” that’s been haunting her family for years. Mama and Maggie, who are overly obsessed with this quilt, fail to realize what her daughter is accomplishing outside their fantasy world and instead live their lives with the bare minimum.
“In real-life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” (Walker, p.48) This is the real mama and her hobby is to day dream; “Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort. Out of a dark and soft-seated limousine I am ushered into a bright room filled with many people.” Throughout this story, which is narrated by Mama herself, she portrays herself as an old school person who is fine living with the simple things in life. If she was so pleased with her living conditions she wouldn’t go about her day, dreaming things like this. In reality she indeed desires some of the success her
daughter has achieved and prances along the day, dreaming about it instead of acting on it. She has built envy against her so strong that her pride has convinced her that she is fine with what she has.
There is no doubt that Mama and Maggie have a sentimental value attached to the quilt, that most will call priceless, but Dee has almost an obligation to take that away from them. Dee sees this quilt as a burden to her family. Her ancestors lived a painful past that Miss Wangero wants her family to forget. It’s the reason why she changed her name and it’s the same reason why she wants her family to move on. Mama says, “I never had an education myself. After second grade the school was closed down. Don’t ask MY why: in 1927 colored asked fewer questions than they do now.” (Walker, p.50) The author of this story clearly wants the reader to understand that Mama had no education; that’s the reason why she misspelled “me” to “my.”
Dee shows that she is a caring daughter and sister that refuses to live in her mother’s shadow. “’Don’t get up,” says Dee.’ “Out she peeks next with a Polaroid. She stoops down quickly and lines up picture after picture of me sitting there in front of the house with Maggie cowering behind me.” “Then she puts the Polaroid in the back seat of the car, and comes up and kisses me on the forehead.” (Walker p.52-53) Clearly a bitch, right? Wrong. Mama’s old school and stubborn ways cost the relationship she had with Dee.
“’ You just don’t understand” she said, as Maggie and I came out the car.
“What don’t I understand?” I wanted to know. “Your heritage,” she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it.”’ (Walker p.59) Dee’s comments towards Maggie and Mama ties into the heritage she wants them to forget. Dee sees the opportunity that African Americans have that they didn’t have in the past. As a caring sister she wants Maggie to realize her opportunity and make something of herself. “’Take one of two of the others,” I said to Dee. But she turned without a word and went out.’ (Walker p.59) Dee didn’t want any quilt the quilt they grew emotional on. She considered her ancestors quilt priceless because it served as a ball chain attached to her sisters
leg.
“Maggie smiled; maybe at the sunglasses. But a real smile, not scared.” (Walker p.59) After Dee made those comments, Maggie knew that her sister truly cared for her and it had nothing to do with those quilts. Smiling with no fear represented as a metaphor for when Dee initially arrived, that Mama will never understand.

Work Cited Page:
1.) Walker, Alice. In Love and Trouble. Brace- Harcourt. New York, NY. 1973