Sisters from Story Everyday Use Alice Walker in her short story Everyday Use, published in 1973, brought us into house of Mrs. Johnson, black women living in the rural part of country. We are visiting her in the same time as her older daughter Dee. Through the mother’s eyes we see how her two daughters, although born and raised in the same house are different. They are different not only in their appearance, but also in their approach to life, family, everyday objects even their heritage. Unlike Dee, Maggie still lives in her mother’s house. We don’t read much in the story about Maggie. She is there in the background, in the corners, in the shadows, doesn’t seem to have any ambitions. “She knows she is not bright. Like good looks and money,
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Who will have them? Will it be Wangero who wants to hang them in her apartment because “they’re priceless” (245)? She appreciates that they were made all by hand. And she appreciates the material used for them. She sees them as a unique piece of art, created by family, and in need of protection. Or will these quilts belong to Maggie, who may “put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags” (245)? But they are important to her too, because when she heard Wangero asking to have them, she came from the kitchen and was standing in the door. For Maggie they are priceless because of the people who created them. It was her grandmother, aunt and mother who made them. But it’s in Maggie nature to always give up. “She can have them, Mama…I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts” (245). And it’s on the mother to decide. Will Wangero be leaving with them? Or are they going to stay with Maggie as promised? We see the sisters in this story through the mother’s eyes. And in this key moment, when she looks around, she realizes Maggie is the daughter “never winning anything, or having anything reserved for her” (245). And the mother keeps her promise, she stands up for Maggie and gave her the
Who will have them? Will it be Wangero who wants to hang them in her apartment because “they’re priceless” (245)? She appreciates that they were made all by hand. And she appreciates the material used for them. She sees them as a unique piece of art, created by family, and in need of protection. Or will these quilts belong to Maggie, who may “put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags” (245)? But they are important to her too, because when she heard Wangero asking to have them, she came from the kitchen and was standing in the door. For Maggie they are priceless because of the people who created them. It was her grandmother, aunt and mother who made them. But it’s in Maggie nature to always give up. “She can have them, Mama…I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts” (245). And it’s on the mother to decide. Will Wangero be leaving with them? Or are they going to stay with Maggie as promised? We see the sisters in this story through the mother’s eyes. And in this key moment, when she looks around, she realizes Maggie is the daughter “never winning anything, or having anything reserved for her” (245). And the mother keeps her promise, she stands up for Maggie and gave her the