Dee In Everyday Use
Although there are several characters in the story, Everyday Use, only one appears to play important role in this story. In this story, Dee, the main character, appears to alienate herself from her family through pride and sense of self-importance.
In the beginning of the story, Dee is portrayed as someone who is overwhelmed with prejudice, pride, and a sense of self- importance, which is display toward her sister,Maggie, and mother. As evidenced, the way she behaved when their house burned down. The narrator illustrates this point when she states, “ .... a look of concentration on her face as she watched the last dingy gray board of the house fall in toward red-hot brick chimney." (p. 495) Instead of displaying a sign of concern for her
sister, Maggie, who was injured by the fire, she rather watched the house burned. Secondly, she would read to her mother and sister with no intention of helping them but only to make them appear inferior to her. “She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.” (p. 495) Moreover, even though her mother’s church contributed money for her college education, she did not visit her family while she was in college because she was ashamed of them. Dee appears to change when she returns home and displays a sudden interest for the African heritage. For example, she abandons her first name “Dee” and adopts the new name “Wandero”. (p. 496) She even develops a growing taste for the traditional African artifacts and antiques. She appreciates them and only wants to “hang them”. (p. 498) However, when her mother tells her that she had promised to give the quilt to Maggie, Dee goes on a rant and says “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts. She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” (p. 498). By informing her mother and sister that they do not understand their heritage, she is being selfish. Therefore, Dee’s admiration of African culture is merely artificial and motivated only by her own selfish motives.
In conclusion, the changes that occur are far from good, whereas she idealizes her African heritage rather than face reality and be with her family. Her admiration for African cultural heritage is not genuine and only wants to keep it to herself.
In the beginning of the story, Dee is portrayed as someone who is overwhelmed with prejudice, pride, and a sense of self- importance, which is display toward her sister,Maggie, and mother. As evidenced, the way she behaved when their house burned down. The narrator illustrates this point when she states, “ .... a look of concentration on her face as she watched the last dingy gray board of the house fall in toward red-hot brick chimney." (p. 495) Instead of displaying a sign of concern for her
sister, Maggie, who was injured by the fire, she rather watched the house burned. Secondly, she would read to her mother and sister with no intention of helping them but only to make them appear inferior to her. “She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.” (p. 495) Moreover, even though her mother’s church contributed money for her college education, she did not visit her family while she was in college because she was ashamed of them. Dee appears to change when she returns home and displays a sudden interest for the African heritage. For example, she abandons her first name “Dee” and adopts the new name “Wandero”. (p. 496) She even develops a growing taste for the traditional African artifacts and antiques. She appreciates them and only wants to “hang them”. (p. 498) However, when her mother tells her that she had promised to give the quilt to Maggie, Dee goes on a rant and says “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts. She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” (p. 498). By informing her mother and sister that they do not understand their heritage, she is being selfish. Therefore, Dee’s admiration of African culture is merely artificial and motivated only by her own selfish motives.
In conclusion, the changes that occur are far from good, whereas she idealizes her African heritage rather than face reality and be with her family. Her admiration for African cultural heritage is not genuine and only wants to keep it to herself.