A New Day for Maggie and Mama
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, there is a sense of tradition that permeates the story. The author describes Mama, an uneducated, widow, with “man-working hands” (Walker 394) who, with the help of her church, was able to raise funds to send her daughter Dee to college. Towards the conclusion of the story, Dee tells her little sister Maggie, “It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama live you’d never know it” (401). Dee obviously has been exposed to plenty of modern ideas about her culture since attending college in 1973. While she loves her family, she now views their simple way of living and attitudes about keeping family heirlooms for everyday use as a lack of understanding of their heritage. …show more content…
When describing the house, Mama says, “when Dee sees it she will want to tear it down.” (395). She hated the old house that burned down and Mama knew this house would not suit Dee either. When describing Dee Mama says, “She wanted nice things. A yellow organdy dress to wear to her graduation from high school; black pumps to match a green suit” (395). Even as a child, Dee attempted to be fashionable despite living in what she probably considered sub-standard conditions. The brightly colored dress conveys that she is happy that she was able to escape her surroundings and is now free to be Wangero, the fashionable and educated woman she always wanted to be when she was …show more content…
Maggie’s own desires are clearly unimportant to Wangero who apparently considers herself a life expert since attending college. When Wangero tells Maggie, “You ought to try and make something of yourself too,” (401) she conveys how she wants Maggie to have ambition and also implies that she thinks it is too late for Mama. Just before she leaves to return to college, she tells Mama, “You just don’t understand.” (401). Ironically, it appears that Wangero is the one that does not understand that her family is comfortable with their lifestyle, cultural identity and already respects their
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, there is a sense of tradition that permeates the story. The author describes Mama, an uneducated, widow, with “man-working hands” (Walker 394) who, with the help of her church, was able to raise funds to send her daughter Dee to college. Towards the conclusion of the story, Dee tells her little sister Maggie, “It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama live you’d never know it” (401). Dee obviously has been exposed to plenty of modern ideas about her culture since attending college in 1973. While she loves her family, she now views their simple way of living and attitudes about keeping family heirlooms for everyday use as a lack of understanding of their heritage. …show more content…
When describing the house, Mama says, “when Dee sees it she will want to tear it down.” (395). She hated the old house that burned down and Mama knew this house would not suit Dee either. When describing Dee Mama says, “She wanted nice things. A yellow organdy dress to wear to her graduation from high school; black pumps to match a green suit” (395). Even as a child, Dee attempted to be fashionable despite living in what she probably considered sub-standard conditions. The brightly colored dress conveys that she is happy that she was able to escape her surroundings and is now free to be Wangero, the fashionable and educated woman she always wanted to be when she was …show more content…
Maggie’s own desires are clearly unimportant to Wangero who apparently considers herself a life expert since attending college. When Wangero tells Maggie, “You ought to try and make something of yourself too,” (401) she conveys how she wants Maggie to have ambition and also implies that she thinks it is too late for Mama. Just before she leaves to return to college, she tells Mama, “You just don’t understand.” (401). Ironically, it appears that Wangero is the one that does not understand that her family is comfortable with their lifestyle, cultural identity and already respects their