Everyday Use By Alice Walker Analysis

The short story, “Everyday Use” written by Alice walker introduces two main characters, Dee and Maggie who are very different, and also uses a quilt to be seen as a symbol, and theme of family heritage. Throughout the story readers are given a better understanding of symbolism and characterization relevant to the society during the story, and modern society. The characterization of both Maggie and Dee walker are used to guide readers into better understanding the relationship between two sisters in the story. Maggie being portrayed as ignorant and ordinary, compared to the characteristics of Dee, intelligent and beautiful, play a bigger role in the comparison of the two girls value of their own heritage. It is understood in the beginning
that Maggie has no real understanding of her heritage, and Dee too has no concept of her heritage. The irony of dee knowing nothing is her appearance of a fulfilled black women, but her actions towards her heritage proves differently.