Everyday Use Heritage

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Everyday Use is a short story written by Alice Walker .Like most of Walker’s work there is a recurrent theme. The theme is representation of harmony as well the conflicts and struggles within African American culture ( Velazquez ). Everyday Use focuses on a mother and her two daughters Maggie and Dee. The story starts with mama and Maggie waiting in the yard waiting on Dee and her boyfriend. . Enotes states “Seen from a greater distance, both young women might seem stereotypical—one a smart but ruthless college girl, the other a sweet but ineffectual homebody” (enotes). In the story Walker touches on the issue of family heritage and this causes a conflict between Dee and her family. In everyday Use Walker shows that your heritage is a part of your everyday life.The family heritage is the main focus in this short story and it is symbolized by using a quilt made by the girls’ grandmother.
Alice walker is a well known author. She is best known for her story the Color Purple. She was born on February 9 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia.
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In the story it is insinuated that Dee is the one that started the fire that Maggie was injured in. Mama said that Dee hated that house.Dee changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. She is seen as a bully to her mom and sister. She thinks because she is educated that she can come in a get what she wants. When she realizes that she can’t get the quilts she gets angry. According to sparknotes “ She claims that Mama and Maggie don’t understand their heritage, but she is the one overlooking the important aspects of her family history ( sparkenotes). Walker uses Dee as the person to challenge people who are activists or otherwise who ignore or reject their heritage (sparkenotes). Dee thinks she teaching her mother and sister a lesson but she came off as a jerk. Dee brings home a ma Hakim-a-barber. Its not clear if they are married are not. Dee makes you feel angry because she is rude and

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