Short Story Everyday Use By Alice Walker
A profound emotional connection with someone unrelated makes him/her seem almost like family. But what about our “real” family that we are bound to by blood? Do love and connection bind us, or does it tear us apart? Do our family heirlooms provide meaning for all? The main conflict in “Everyday Use” includes an African American family with both internal and external struggles. The yard and quilt in Alice Walker’s intriguing short story, “Everyday Use” are symbolic and illuminate the fundamental theme of family and heritage.
The short story begins with Mrs. Johnson and Maggie waiting in the yard for Dee. Mrs. Johnson and Maggie both worked hard to make the yard, “…clean and wavy yesterday afternoon” in preparation for Dee’s arrival. But, the
yard “…is not just a yard. It is like an extended living room” (line 3). Mrs. Johnson is fond of her yard and to her, it even is a part of her home. Moreover, the yard is not just part of her property, but it signifies safety and freedom while, her house is tense and represents discomfort as Walker writes, “I have deliberately turned my back on the house…There are no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides...” Furthermore, the quarrel between Dee and Mama regarding the quilts takes place in the house, whereas the polite conversations between Mrs. Johnson, Dee and Asalamalakim occur in the open yard. At first glance, the yard may just seem as a basic part of the story’s setting, however, it is an important aspect of Mrs. Johnson and Maggie’s family legacy as they both polish, value and utilize it daily.
Another symbolic object in “Everyday Use” is the quilts handmade by Big Dee and Grandma. The quilts are not only the source of the quarrel between Mrs. Johnson and Dee but serve as more than just family heirlooms. The quilts are evidence of family history of battle its pride. “In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarell’s paisley shirts. And one teeny tiny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the civil war.” The Johnson family history is a physical and emotional part of the handmade crafted quilts. However, Dee does not understand their value as all she wants to do with them is “Hang them.” Additionally, the quilts are not just evidence of hard work but testify to the relationships between the women of different generations. Grandma Dee had taught Mrs. Johnson and Maggie to quilt and that strengthened the bond between them. Maggie remarks “I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts.”
Overall, the theme of family and heritage is illustrated through the symbols of the yard and quilts. Walker reveals the theme and helps readers relate to it.
The short story begins with Mrs. Johnson and Maggie waiting in the yard for Dee. Mrs. Johnson and Maggie both worked hard to make the yard, “…clean and wavy yesterday afternoon” in preparation for Dee’s arrival. But, the
yard “…is not just a yard. It is like an extended living room” (line 3). Mrs. Johnson is fond of her yard and to her, it even is a part of her home. Moreover, the yard is not just part of her property, but it signifies safety and freedom while, her house is tense and represents discomfort as Walker writes, “I have deliberately turned my back on the house…There are no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides...” Furthermore, the quarrel between Dee and Mama regarding the quilts takes place in the house, whereas the polite conversations between Mrs. Johnson, Dee and Asalamalakim occur in the open yard. At first glance, the yard may just seem as a basic part of the story’s setting, however, it is an important aspect of Mrs. Johnson and Maggie’s family legacy as they both polish, value and utilize it daily.
Another symbolic object in “Everyday Use” is the quilts handmade by Big Dee and Grandma. The quilts are not only the source of the quarrel between Mrs. Johnson and Dee but serve as more than just family heirlooms. The quilts are evidence of family history of battle its pride. “In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarell’s paisley shirts. And one teeny tiny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the civil war.” The Johnson family history is a physical and emotional part of the handmade crafted quilts. However, Dee does not understand their value as all she wants to do with them is “Hang them.” Additionally, the quilts are not just evidence of hard work but testify to the relationships between the women of different generations. Grandma Dee had taught Mrs. Johnson and Maggie to quilt and that strengthened the bond between them. Maggie remarks “I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts.”
Overall, the theme of family and heritage is illustrated through the symbols of the yard and quilts. Walker reveals the theme and helps readers relate to it.