Heritage is one of the most important factors that represents where a person comes from. Basically, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker written in 1973 is a short story about Mama and her two daughter; Maggie and Dee who hold different views as to how culture and their heritage should be represented. The main theme of the story is whether heritage and culture should be seen as something that must be practical and put into “everyday use” or should be presented as our past history. The story is told by Mama, Mrs. Johnson. She serves as a judge to both daughters and gives a vivid description of their characters and behaviors throughout the story. From this perspective, Alice Walker is able to show how point of view influences whether heritage and culture should be seen as something that must be practical and put into “everyday use” or should be presented as our past history. ow of the story.
“Everyday Use” is narrated from Mama’s point of view. She knows her culture and how each and every person is ought to behave. Mama is an unreliable narrator because she is so closely related to the characters in the story, her perception of them is biased. Walker uses this point of view to her advantage, because while the reader is familiar with Wangero’s somewhat stereotypical ‘obsessed with culture’ personality, which she remains completely foreign to
At the beginning of the story, readers will agree to the fact that Mama was more in favor her eldest daughter, Dee who was also the central character. She makes Dee more likable to the reader and later on she represents Dee as someone who should not be likable. In the beginning of the story the mother speaks of Wangero’s actions in the past. Even then she displayed an arrogance that isolated her mother and younger sister, but the Mama was too busy being proud of her daughter’s achievements to notice. She says, “At sixteen [Dee] had a style of her own, and she knew what style was. She used to read to us, without pity. [We sat] trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.”
The mother admits to her own ignorance in front of Dee, but does not seem bothered by it. Mama also fantasizes about how Dee would be a guest on T.V and invite her for a program. “Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort. Out of a dark and soft.seated limousine I am ushered into a bright room filled with many people. There I meet a smiling, gray, sporty man like Johnny Carson …”(Walker 78) She would think of how Dee would make it in life and Mama part of her success. She also admires Dee for the fact that Dee was not threaten and frighten when she speaks to white people but Mama just like other black folks possesses that fear. She therefore preferred Dee because she was educated and more talented.
As the reader progresses in the story, Mama begins to present Dee in a not so likable manner. Mama gives vivid evidence about Dee’s attitude towards her culture. She thinks Dee’s education will acquaint her with the knowledge to appreciate her (Mama) and the family, but then again Mama remembers a “behavior” Dee possesses, she is someone who does not really want anything to do with her culture(practically) so she would not rather want to show her big boned,man working hands mother to the public, she would prefer her mom to be “a hundred pound lighter, her skin like an uncooked barley pancake. Her hair glistens in the hot bright lights.”(Walker 78) Looking carefully at this statement, the reader realizes that while Wangero tries to glean more of her heritage from Mama, she would have loved it if Mama was more modernized than she is. Wangero was not as pride of her heritage. Mama gives vivid evidence about Dee’s attitude towards her culture. When their other house got
burnt, Dee did not really show any signs of pain of losing something that was part of her. She rather stood under a tree and watched it burn to the last piece. Mama confesses that she wish she could ask her “Why don’t you do a dance around the ashes?” (Walker 79) Dee should come out outwardly and express how delighted that the house was burst. This makes the reader view Dee as an unlikable character.
After the Arrival of Dee, Mama realizes Dee has become modernized. She remains essentially unchanged from her childhood. She further embraces a new culture instead. Mama’s notion of education was that Dee would become a better person and embrace her culture. Mama makes the reader aware of Dee’s actions. Dee sees herself as a tourist in her own household. Mama describes how Dee takes pictures of she and Maggie and other objects around them “She never takes a shot without making sure the house is included. When a cow comes nibbling around the edge of the yard she snaps it and me and Maggie and the house.”().
Dee’s appearance changes and she changes her name too. It surprises Mama that Dee do not know the value of her name and from Dee’s explanation Mama knows Dee is completely astray from her culture. When Dee begin to ask for other objects in the home such as the dasher, churn top and the quilt, Mama now see that Dee did not want to use them for what they are intended for but she wants to use it in an artistic sense. This therefore makes readers understand the Dee perception of heritage is not to put it into “every use❞ but it should be something that should be represented. Throughout the story, Mama presents Dee as someone who does not represent and practice culture as expected.
Maggie is the second daughter of Mrs. Johnson, Mama describes her as being like a lame animal to portray her shyness and that she is non-confident .In comparison to Dee, Maggie walks with her “chin on chest, eyes on ground, and feet in shuffle” (Walker 81) illustrating how shy and innocent. Mama gives the impression that Maggie is ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs that the fire left her with. Maggie is the younger of the two daughters. Maggie is uneducated like Mama herself and her lack of education has a lot to do with her character but yet it does not stop her from practicing her culture. She is not as good looking as her sister and Mama describes she does not look good.
Mama portrays Maggie as someone who is beneath the standards of her sister throughout the story. As the story progresses Mama comes into an epiphany and gradually rejects the superficial values of Dee and sides with Maggie who is more acquainted culture. Mama description of Maggie makes the reader aware of how tune she is to culture .Mama said Maggie can make quilts and Maggie also admits that she can remember her grandmother without quilts. This indicates how much she knows about her culture and did not need anything for remembrance of it. It was part of her way of life. She was so much like Mama. She is practical and puts culture into everyday use.
Mama also describes herself as a “large, big boned woman with rough, man working hands. In the winter I wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man.”(Walker 78) This description along with her reference to a second grade education leads the reader to conclude that Mama takes pride in the practical aspects of her nature, and that she has not spent a great deal of time contemplating abstract concepts such as heritage and culture. However, her lack of education and refinement does not prevent her from having an understanding of heritage. Mama’s description of she and Maggie tells the reader how much they put their culture into
“Everyday Use.”
In a nutshell, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is a short story that characterizes what heritage really means and what it may be portrayed as. With the use Mama’s point of view to tell the story, Walker is able to give a vivid description of events and both daughter since she is closer to them and have seen them through childhood as compare to another point of view and the reader is able to know whether heritage should be part of our everyday life or should be presented in an artistic sense.
