A family’s identity is defined by their heritage -- the objects that are passed down through the generations. Alice Walker's “Everyday Use” explains how these precious artifacts must be protected as they are passed down from generation to generation. The story follows an African American family living in the mid-1900s during the Black Nationalist Movement. Additionally, the short story highlights the dichotomy two sisters: the apprehensive, timid Maggie and the self-assured, outgoing Dee to underscore the different ways each character connects their African American heritage. Walker’s unique diction, syntax, and mood, and c choices illustrate a vivid image of Maggie to convey how she interacts her patrimony.
Walker’s unique syntax and diction …show more content…
When Dee confronts her mother about taking the family quilts -- priceless artifacts that their grandmother made during the civil war -- Maggie becomes frustrated that her sister might take something that is hers. Maggie’s Waterloo occurs when Mama hears “something fall in the kitchen, and a minute later the kitchen door slammed” (Walker 1465). The the scene creates an empathetic mood that allows the reader to also experience Maggie’s anguish. Consequently, the reader can understand that the quilts are not only the incarnation of Maggie’s African American heritage, but are also her identity. Moreover, the quilts are constructed from pieces of family members’ clothing, each part of the quilt contains the identity of an ancestor that console Maggie. The awkward family scene proves Maggie is a dynamic character because when it comes to protecting her innermost desires, Maggie will stop up to claim what rightfully belongs to her in spite of her crippling apprehension. The frustration that the reader experiences as a result of the empathetic mood demonstrate how deep inside Maggie’s timidness locks away her confidence, nonetheless any threats made against her heritage are enough to liberate that all-powerful, authoritative
Walker’s unique syntax and diction …show more content…
When Dee confronts her mother about taking the family quilts -- priceless artifacts that their grandmother made during the civil war -- Maggie becomes frustrated that her sister might take something that is hers. Maggie’s Waterloo occurs when Mama hears “something fall in the kitchen, and a minute later the kitchen door slammed” (Walker 1465). The the scene creates an empathetic mood that allows the reader to also experience Maggie’s anguish. Consequently, the reader can understand that the quilts are not only the incarnation of Maggie’s African American heritage, but are also her identity. Moreover, the quilts are constructed from pieces of family members’ clothing, each part of the quilt contains the identity of an ancestor that console Maggie. The awkward family scene proves Maggie is a dynamic character because when it comes to protecting her innermost desires, Maggie will stop up to claim what rightfully belongs to her in spite of her crippling apprehension. The frustration that the reader experiences as a result of the empathetic mood demonstrate how deep inside Maggie’s timidness locks away her confidence, nonetheless any threats made against her heritage are enough to liberate that all-powerful, authoritative