Different Perspectives Of Heritage In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

Different perspectives of Heritage What is heritage? Heritage is the traditional achievements and beliefs that are part of a family history. The perspective of a family heritage depends on how each individual values it. In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker uses the narrator Mama to describe Dee and Maggie different views of their heritage. The most valued symbol that signified their heritage were quilts. These special quilts were handmade by Grandma Dee, Big Dee, and Mama. Scraps from Grandma Dee dresses along with bits and pieces of Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the civil war is what made the quilts cherish able items. The representation of the quilts were meant to be passed down from generation to generation. Mama knew how important their family heritage was so with Dee and Maggie being the youngest, they were expected to value and carry out their heritage.
While leaving her rural background behind, she gained an interest in African heritage. As a result, Dee suddenly wants to over-do her heritage and merely focus on the fashion aspect rather than on the importance of her family values. In this event, she changed her name that was giving to her by her Aunt Dicie to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Dee stated, “She is dead” referring to her birth given name (Walker). The feelings she expressed about her name was “unbearable” with thoughts of being named after people that oppressed her (Walker). Although she felt as if her family heritage wasn’t of importance, she thought that the quilts being in her possession was a good idea. Instead of valuing the significances of the quilts, she wanted to just use them for show by hanging them up for display. This was not a traditional way of representation of her