Alice Walker's "Everyday Use": a Study of Heritage and Identity

Introduction

Alice Walker's short story, "Everyday Use," dives deep into cultural heritage and personal identity. Written back in 1973, it tells about an African American family living in the rural South. The story zooms in on the different views of two sisters, Dee and Maggie, and their mom, known as Mama. Walker explores how people value and keep their heritage alive and the tricky side of figuring out one's identity in a changing world. In this essay, I'll look at the themes of heritage and identity in "Everyday Use," showing how Walker uses character growth and symbolism to make her point.

Heritage: Dee vs. Maggie

Heritage is a big deal in "Everyday Use." Walker uses Dee and Maggie's different attitudes to show two ways of preserving culture. Dee, who now goes by Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, is all about a modern take on heritage. She's educated, bold, and sure of herself but wants to distance herself from her past. Dee's new name and desire to grab family items like the hand-stitched quilts show her wish to link up with a larger African heritage while pushing away her direct roots. She sees the quilts not for their sentimental value or practical history but as cool cultural artifacts.

On the flip side, Maggie is about an authentic connection to her heritage. She's shy and scarred from a house fire, lacking Dee's boldness, but she's got this deep bond with her family's traditions. Maggie gets the personal history in the family heirlooms. She knows all about the quilts' origins because her grandma taught her to sew. This shows she's the true keeper of her family's heritage. Maggie's embrace of her heritage is real and part of her daily life, unlike Dee's more showy approach.

Mama: The Anchor

Mama is like the anchor of this story, giving us insight into her daughters' different paths. Her view is pretty practical; she sees heritage as a blend of past and present. Mama's choice to give the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee is a big moment. It shows she recognizes Maggie's real appreciation for their legacy. This act also shows Mama's disapproval of Dee's shallow take on heritage. Through Mama, Walker criticizes turning culture into a commodity and stresses the importance of real experiences in keeping heritage alive.

The Symbolism of Quilts

The quilts are a strong symbol in the story that show the link between past, present, and future. Made from scraps of ancestors' clothes, each piece has its own story and memories attached to it. The quilts' everyday use contrasts with Dee's plan to hang them as art pieces. This difference shows Walker's point that heritage isn't just something to look at but something you live with every day too. The quilts are like a metaphor for cultural identity—stitched from the past and used daily.

Conclusion

In "Everyday Use," Alice Walker explores heritage and identity through one family's story brilliantly well. By comparing Dee and Maggie, Walker shows different ways people see and value cultural heritage. Dee's shallow approach differs greatly from Maggie's real connection to her family's past. The quilts capture this idea nicely by showing how they connect generations together like threads (if you think about it). Walker’s story reminds us of how complex identity can be—and just how important heritage is in shaping who we are today! Through these themes’ detailed depiction by Walker herself—makes us question our ties with our own cultural pasts—how do we honor/keep them alive?

References

• Walker, A., (1973). Everyday Use.
• Cutter, M.J., (2000). Alice Walker: A Woman For Our Times.
• Whitsitt, S., (2000). "Cultural Conflict & Reconciliation." Modern Fiction Studies.
• Petry, A.G., (1995). Critical Essays on Alice Walker.
• Tuten N.Z., (2010). Alice Walker: Critical Perspectives Past And Present.