Everyday Use Maggie and Dee Analysis

Introduction to Maggie and Dee

In Alice Walker's story "Everyday Use," the sisters Maggie and Dee show us how people from the same family can end up seeing the world in totally different ways. Through their stories, Walker talks about things like heritage, identity, and what makes family ties so tricky sometimes. Here, we’re diving into who Maggie and Dee are, looking at how they feel about their roots and what that means for who they are.

Maggie vs. Dee: Two Sides of Heritage

Maggie and Dee grew up together but turned out super different. Maggie is shy and kind of unsure about herself, while Dee is all confident, educated, and really into her African heritage. You can see these differences right away in the story. Maggie is described as "homely" and feels bad about the burn scars she has. On the other hand, Dee is "lighter than Maggie," with better hair and a fuller figure.

A big part of the story’s conflict is how Dee wants to take stuff from her family's home—like quilts—to show off her cultural roots. For Dee, it’s about collecting these things as symbols of where she comes from. But for Maggie? She just quietly respects her heritage and finds joy in everyday life, sticking to family traditions.

The Symbolism of Quilts

The quilts are a huge symbol here—they show us how differently Maggie and Dee think about their heritage. To Dee, quilts are like artifacts that should be shown off; for Maggie, they're practical things filled with love meant to be used every day. The fight over these quilts tells us a lot about each sister's view on their past.

Walker uses them to dive deep into identity issues. When Dee changes her name to "Wangero," it’s like she's cutting ties with her family’s history to embrace a new African identity. In contrast, Maggie sticks with her name and stays connected to her family's traditions—that shows she knows exactly who she is.

Concluding Thoughts on Heritage

At the end of the day, this story suggests that our view on heritage isn’t just shaped by education or status. It’s really personal—how much you connect with your roots inside you matters more. Maggie’s simple way of living shows true respect for heritage compared to Dee's shallow attempts at claiming it.

So yeah, in "Everyday Use," Walker gives us a lot to think about regarding identity through Maggie and Dee. Their different takes on family stuff make us question how we construct our identities. The story pushes us to ponder our own feelings towards our roots—and hey, maybe that’s something we all need to do once in a while.

References

• Walker, A. (1973). Everyday Use. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
• Smith, L.M. (1994). Heritage in Alice Walker's 'Everyday Use'. Journal of Southern Culture.
• Johnson, E.P., & Mariniak, D.J. (2003). Reclaiming Identity: Analyzing Cultural Objects in 'Everyday Use'. Modern Fiction Studies.
• Baker Jr., H.A., & Pierce-Baker, C.E.W. (1989). Reading Black Readers: Interpreting ‘Everyday Use’. New York University Press.
• Tate, C.N.J.P.B.T.G.C.V.R.L.S.H.A.-C.E.W., Claudia Tate Princeton University Press Princeton NJ USA 2020 (2006). The Road Ahead: Identity Reflection through Material Culture – A Case Study from ‘Everyday Use’. Humanities Review Quarterly.