Alice Walker Heritage

Heritage has many definitions such as: property that is inherited, a special possession, or traditions, beliefs that are part of a family’s history. In addition, to its diverse definitions people as well have different concepts of what heritage means to them. In the short story, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker the diverse concepts of heritage has induced a disagreement. The reoccurring drama over the different perspectives of heritage ends this with an unsettling ending. Dee has not seen her family since her departure for an education. Her awaited visit sprung differences between the family since she wanted the carved dasher and family quilts to display them in her apartment while these heirlooms meant much more to Momma and Maggie. Walker utilizes the direct characterization for Dee and Maggie and
indirect characterization for Momma to stress that heritage is viewed through two different perspectives: materialistic verses customs. The materialistic perspective of heritage focuses on the value of the physical objects; on the other hand, the customs perspective embraces the utilitarian value and the sentimental value.
The direct characterization of Dee demonstrates that she views her heritage through the materialistic perspective. Through the use of direct characterization the author articulates what Dee’s character is like by using Momma’s character to tell the reader. Dee understands her heritage by valuing the inheritances as artifacts worth for their material value. By the use of direct characterization the reader realizes that Dee is spoiled and self-central, which demonstrates the emergence of her materialistic perspective. In other words, she treasures her family’s heirlooms solely as artifacts to be valued for their worth. For instance, when she comes across the family quilts she asks Momma if she can have them; however, Momma denies her the quilts because she has already promised them to Maggie. Momma then offers Dee the quilts that are stitched by machine, which will last longer, but Dee does not want those. She tells Momma “That’s not the point … these are all the pieces of dresses Grandma used to wear. She did all the stitching by hand”(114). Dee did not give much importance to the lasting quilts because she was determined to have the family quilts since “they’re priceless!”(115). She desires the family quilts because they are artifacts that she values for the “priceless” value because they are from the past generations; even though the heirlooms have become impersonal objects, she believes that they are suitable for display. By exhibiting them she claims to understand her heritage.
Moreover, the reader learns through Momma’s indirect characterization that she values heritage by embracing the utilitarian value of the heirlooms.
The indirect characterization allows the readers to understand Momma’s character through her actions and motives. Momma embraces the utilitarian value by remembering the memories that the objects influence every time she uses them. Indirectly the reader discovers that Momma is humble and appreciative with what she has since she always finds a bright side to it. Momma’s appreciation has allowed her to understand and value her heritage by keeping the tradition alive every time she uses the dasher to make butter and the family quilts. After Dee wraps the dasher Momma takes it for a moment and analyzes it enough to “see where the hands pushing the dasher up and down to make butter had left a kind of sink in the wood. In fact there were a lot of small sinks …” (114). In that moment the dasher inspired Momma to deeply think that it inspired memories of her past family member who also used the dasher. Momma feels deeply connected to the family’s gifts because she values the tradition through the “everyday use” of the
heirlooms.