"Everyday Use" in Marxism Interpretation
Marxist Interpretation
“Everyday Use” is a great example of a Marxist theory. From the beginning paragraphs of the short story, one notices the tell-tale signs of Marxism with class differences and the oppression of the lower and working class. The Marxist theory is primarily shown through Dee’s education opportunity that the rest of her family doesn’t have and how she treats her family afterwards.
Even today, higher education is seen as a symbol of success, fortune, status, and power. Most people view others who have a higher education as “better” or of a higher social class. In “Everyday Use”, we see how education affects the family and their thoughts of class differences. Starting with Mama, whom never received an education past the second grade as her school was shut down. As members of the lower class, there is little opportunity for the family. However, Dee gets the rare opportunity to get a higher education because of money raised from their church. Maggie, her sister, has no such opportunity. Dee doesn’t associate with her family any longer because of the class differences. Dee changes her name and seems to forget where she came from and how fortunate she was for the opportunities she had.
It’s interesting to see class differences within one family. When I usually think of Marxism and class differences, I usually think of whole groups or families part of different societal classes—a much broader way of thinking. However, “Everyday Use” is a great example of more subtle Marxism shown through just one family. After Dee attends school, it’s clear that she looks down on her family by saying things like “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts! She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” and “It’s really a new era for all of us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it”.
This story is a great example of a Marxist theory. It opens up about the class differences, even within the same family when opportunities arise for one
“Everyday Use” is a great example of a Marxist theory. From the beginning paragraphs of the short story, one notices the tell-tale signs of Marxism with class differences and the oppression of the lower and working class. The Marxist theory is primarily shown through Dee’s education opportunity that the rest of her family doesn’t have and how she treats her family afterwards.
Even today, higher education is seen as a symbol of success, fortune, status, and power. Most people view others who have a higher education as “better” or of a higher social class. In “Everyday Use”, we see how education affects the family and their thoughts of class differences. Starting with Mama, whom never received an education past the second grade as her school was shut down. As members of the lower class, there is little opportunity for the family. However, Dee gets the rare opportunity to get a higher education because of money raised from their church. Maggie, her sister, has no such opportunity. Dee doesn’t associate with her family any longer because of the class differences. Dee changes her name and seems to forget where she came from and how fortunate she was for the opportunities she had.
It’s interesting to see class differences within one family. When I usually think of Marxism and class differences, I usually think of whole groups or families part of different societal classes—a much broader way of thinking. However, “Everyday Use” is a great example of more subtle Marxism shown through just one family. After Dee attends school, it’s clear that she looks down on her family by saying things like “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts! She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” and “It’s really a new era for all of us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it”.
This story is a great example of a Marxist theory. It opens up about the class differences, even within the same family when opportunities arise for one