In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” a woman who we know as “Mama” is waiting patiently for her daughter Dee, who was described as ambitious, outgoing, and driven. Dee had always had dreams of making it big and make something of herself, even at the expense of her family. As Mama breaks down the past, the story makes its way to the present and we find alongside her is her younger daughter Maggie. Maggie has scars from their house burning down in the past. She was more of the quiet, shy, and reserved type who always let Dee get first grabs at everything and hid behind her Mama. Finally Mama and Maggie’s wait is over and Dee finally arrives. She arrives with a man who is also her boyfriend that goes by the name of Hakim-a-barber. Hakim turned Dee
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Mama surprised both Dee and Maggie when she finally said something after all those years, but it was well overdue. Dee offended, storms off saying that Mama doesn’t understand her heritage and that Maggie needs to make something of herself. Dee gets in her car with her partner and drives away and an elated Mama and Maggie enjoy dips of tobacco to celebrate.
When viewing a critique of “Everyday use” by Rebecca Balcarcel, the explanations given went into depth and were highly detailed. For example, Balcarcel talked about the example of when Dee came to Mama’s house and tried to take the quilt to display in her home. Mama finally stood up for both Maggie and herself and took the quilt out of Dee’s arms and put them in Maggie’s arms. Finally Mama had given Maggie the care and recognition that she deserved after all of those years. She also pointed out that the story was not about Dee but about Mama’s transition as a woman. I can see her point of view, because the story was told from the perspective of Mama and it did capture her growth and how she came to realize that the grateful daughter, the one who cared for her mother all along was Maggie instead of Dee. Then again, the argument could be made that the story was about Maggie because
Mama surprised both Dee and Maggie when she finally said something after all those years, but it was well overdue. Dee offended, storms off saying that Mama doesn’t understand her heritage and that Maggie needs to make something of herself. Dee gets in her car with her partner and drives away and an elated Mama and Maggie enjoy dips of tobacco to celebrate.
When viewing a critique of “Everyday use” by Rebecca Balcarcel, the explanations given went into depth and were highly detailed. For example, Balcarcel talked about the example of when Dee came to Mama’s house and tried to take the quilt to display in her home. Mama finally stood up for both Maggie and herself and took the quilt out of Dee’s arms and put them in Maggie’s arms. Finally Mama had given Maggie the care and recognition that she deserved after all of those years. She also pointed out that the story was not about Dee but about Mama’s transition as a woman. I can see her point of view, because the story was told from the perspective of Mama and it did capture her growth and how she came to realize that the grateful daughter, the one who cared for her mother all along was Maggie instead of Dee. Then again, the argument could be made that the story was about Maggie because