Dee In Everyday Use

“Everyday Use” is a great short story that is narrated by Mrs. Johnson, whom is the mother of two daughters. Dee and Maggie are two very different people from the way they think to how they represent themselves. Dee decides after quite some time, to finally go home to visit her mother and sister. It is clear during her visit, that Dee is still as they remembered. The characterization of Dee throughout this short story is told by what she says, what she does, and what others say about her.
Dee is characterized by what she does. Her mother states how several years prior when their house was burning down Dee just stood there and watched as though it made her happy. When Dee finally shows up to her family’s home, she presents herself wearing a bright, colorful, and flowing dress which was accessorized with bold jewelry. This type of attire was not accustomed to her family and represents her modern-day style. Dee also brought a man to the house named Asalamalakim, who we …show more content…
Shortly after her initial arrival to the house Dee informs her mother that she know longer goes by that name saying: “Not ‘Dee,’ Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo.” Her reasoning behind the change was to know longer keep the name her parents gave her. To the contrary, Dee then proceeds to ask her mother where the name Dee originated from going back into the ancestry of the family. Dee later found her grandmothers old quilts that she wanted but her mother informed her that they were to later be given to Maggie. Mrs. Johnson offered her other quilts which in turn Dee responded “You will not understand. The point is these quilts, these quilts.” The quilts were made from the clothing of past grandparents who had every day use. Dee stated that Maggie would destroy the quilts because she would use them, and that the quilts should be preserved and hung for display. Dee seemed to see a value in them more than the ‘heritage’-reasoning she claimed-and love it