In the endless march of time old ideas are always cast aside for more contemporary alternatives. This phenomenon is no more apparent than in the gap between generations. Children often push their parents to adopt new ideas and accept new doctrines. This constant strain between generations often leads to turmoil. Because of its many intricacies authors often have difficulty illustrating this conflict. Yet in the short story Everyday use for your Grandmother Alice Walker adroitly demonstrates the age-old conflict between generations through the characterization of Dee.
To understand the character of Dee one must understand the family she originated from. Dee’s mother, a roughed-out woman designed for labor, saw the world as it was and did not expect respite from its harsh realities. She thought to herself but that is a mistake. I know even before I wake up (6). The mother sees her dream as a mistake because it does not fit in with her simple southern life and her coarse manner. Dee on the other hand sees the world as a place filled with opportunities. The mother thinks that no is a word the world never learned to say to her (2). This thought is further elaborated on later bringing the reader to believe that Dee is stubborn in nature. Dee is also described as a blunt person who does not waver when attempting to get what she wants. The mother describes Dee as a person for whom hesitation was no part of her nature (6). This lack of hesitation later leads to conflict between the Mother and Dee. Clearly Dee is highly influenced by her mother, yet not by emulating her but by establishing herself as a separate person.
Throughout the story Walker presents the rich image of an austere southern area. The mother, as she describes the house enforces this image. She described the house as having no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides (14). This reveals the mothers acceptance of her southern lifestyle, she does not see the house the same way Dee does. The austere yard further illustrates the image of a simple southern life. The mother thinks, a yard like this is more comfortable than most people know (1). Her opinion of the open yard reveals the simple pleasures she takes, she finds the simple yet accommodating yard enjoyable. The image of the quilts further expands the old-fashioned simplicity of the setting. The mother states God knows I been saving em long enough with nobody using em (62). Where most people would consider these quilts to be precious heirlooms the mother sees them as an item to be used for practical use. The Imagery describing the simple southern setting reveals much about the characters and how later cause conflict between each other.
Towards the end of the story Walker illustrates the mother and Dee’s conflicting view of heritage. Dee, when she first arrived, toke pictures of the mother with the house in the background. Dee never takes a shot without making sure the house is included (22). By always including the house she reveals her belief that she needs to preserve the memory of her mother’s simple life style, which the house reveals much about. Dee later tries to take the precious quilts from her mother and her mother’s reluctance to allow her to do so reveal the mothers conflicting views. This is best illustrated by the argument but they’re priceless! she was saying now, furiously; for she has a temper (75). Dee sees the quilts as a piece of heritage to be preserved, but the mother believes that they would be better served through everyday use. This conflicting view of heritage is further enforced by when the mother ends the argument over the quilts. She snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap (76). The mother believes Dee was going to make no practical use of the quilts; therefore she gives the quilts to Maggie. Dee’s conflicting views of heritage are an underlying theme through out the story; indeed it would be reasonable to consider them the main plot device.
Through out this story the conflict between the mother and Dee is depicted in many ways. In the beginning it is through the characterization of Dee and the mother. In the end walker adroitly elaborates on it through the use of imagery. This conflict however cannot be fully described through the use of only characterization and imagery. Walker carefully made every part of the story expand on the conflict. In the end the reader comes to realize that walker was not merely illustrating this conflict for the sake of entertainment. She illustrated it in the hope of implying the message that ones heritage is not a matter of fashion or careful preservation, but of memory.
