literary analysis of everyday use
Kristin Coleman
Comp II
Dr. Davis
Literary Analysis Characterization refers to the various literary means by which characters are presented. In Alice Walker’s Everyday Use, Maggie is directly presented to the reader by the narrator, Mama. The author describes poor Maggie as a meek, scarred, less intelligent version of the sister (Dee) who comes to claim the quilts Mama has already promised her. Initially, Maggie perhaps comes across as a flat character who thinks that the world has always catered to her pretty sister Dee. However, as the story progresses to the main conflict, when Dee wants to take two quilts made by their Grandma Dee, Maggie shows herself to be a round character with many sides. When Dee first makes the request to take the quilts, Maggie is in the kitchen washing up the dishes and Mama notes “I heard something fall in the kitchen, and a minute or two later the kitchen door slammed.” (152) This statement shows Maggie’s frustration because again the world seems to be taking from her and giving to Dee (B&N). After hearing the exchange between Mama and Dee, Maggie seems to want to give in to her sister’s wishes, perhaps in an effort to please her.
Despite what Maggie says, her early actions tend to imply that there is an emotional struggle going on inside her. Those quilts are special to her, but she also feels the need to put Dee ahead of herself which may be a result of the family continually sacrificing for the sake of Dee over the years. Such as when Mama and the church worked so hard to scrape up the money to send her to school (Velazquez). In the end, Mama apparently sees what is going on inside of Maggie and refuses to let her sacrifice her sincerest desires to Dee, and the resulting temper tantrum and departure of Dee, “Maggie smiled” (154). This “real smile, not scared,” (154) may have been intended to make the reader think that Maggie is saying inside her own mind, “It was finally my turn, I got what I wanted in spite of her.” That
Comp II
Dr. Davis
Literary Analysis Characterization refers to the various literary means by which characters are presented. In Alice Walker’s Everyday Use, Maggie is directly presented to the reader by the narrator, Mama. The author describes poor Maggie as a meek, scarred, less intelligent version of the sister (Dee) who comes to claim the quilts Mama has already promised her. Initially, Maggie perhaps comes across as a flat character who thinks that the world has always catered to her pretty sister Dee. However, as the story progresses to the main conflict, when Dee wants to take two quilts made by their Grandma Dee, Maggie shows herself to be a round character with many sides. When Dee first makes the request to take the quilts, Maggie is in the kitchen washing up the dishes and Mama notes “I heard something fall in the kitchen, and a minute or two later the kitchen door slammed.” (152) This statement shows Maggie’s frustration because again the world seems to be taking from her and giving to Dee (B&N). After hearing the exchange between Mama and Dee, Maggie seems to want to give in to her sister’s wishes, perhaps in an effort to please her.
Despite what Maggie says, her early actions tend to imply that there is an emotional struggle going on inside her. Those quilts are special to her, but she also feels the need to put Dee ahead of herself which may be a result of the family continually sacrificing for the sake of Dee over the years. Such as when Mama and the church worked so hard to scrape up the money to send her to school (Velazquez). In the end, Mama apparently sees what is going on inside of Maggie and refuses to let her sacrifice her sincerest desires to Dee, and the resulting temper tantrum and departure of Dee, “Maggie smiled” (154). This “real smile, not scared,” (154) may have been intended to make the reader think that Maggie is saying inside her own mind, “It was finally my turn, I got what I wanted in spite of her.” That
Cited: Barnes and Noble. Everyday Use by Alice Walker. Sparknotes.com. B&N. Web. 15 February 2015. Obaid, Niwar. Literary Analysis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker. Academia.edu. 2013. Web. 15 February 2015. Shmoop Editorial Team. “Maggie in Everyday Use.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University Inc., 11 November 2008. Web. 15 February 2015. Velazquez, Juan. Characterization and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s, “Everyday Use.” Lone Star College. Web. 13 February 2015. Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense. Ed. Greg Johnson and Thomas R. Arp. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2015. 147-154. Print.