Our culture dictates many parts of our lives, whether it be through conscious understanding or through subconscious ritual and belief. For some, their culture defines who they are fundamentally. Alice Walker, in her short story “Everyday Use”, uses the differing mindsets of two sisters to explore African-American culture in rural America. Also explored is how heritage, reflected in where and when one grows up, interacts and affects culture. Although Mama raised both sisters the same way, they grew up to have different views on their culture and heritage.
First, it is important to explore the character of Dee, or as she calls herself, Wangero. From the beginning, Mama, the narrator, makes it clear that Dee is separate from her and Maggie. She …show more content…
Mama and Maggie are not the same as the people who Wangero surrounds herself with on a daily basis. They are content with what they have and do not see the civil rights movement as necessary for them, Maggie especially. Maggie exists in the shadow of her sister and represents everything that Wangero despises the most. Maggie does not embrace her western culture, she simply lives it without question. Mama aptly describes Maggie as “homely and ashamed of the burn scars” (Walker 155). Maggie wears clothes without any fashion, her features are plain, and she will marry a boy from her town. She also bears the burden of this life through her scars. Evidence suggests that Dee was the one who burned their house to the ground. This is held by the fact that Dee was already out of the house and had mentioned on several occasions that she detested it. In this, Dee marks her sister and Maggie must bear the consequences of Dee’s actions. Dee, however, has no physical marks from her actions and some may argue that guilt may have driven her to leave her town and go to school. However, guilt and remorse seem uncharacteristic of Dee, and she likely feels little more than pity for her now scarred sister. Maggie may hold some resentment for her sister because Dee is everything that Maggie is not, also she caused her harm. She and her rural culture will never accept or embrace the lifestyle that Wangero and Hakim have adopted because how they perceive their heritage is
First, it is important to explore the character of Dee, or as she calls herself, Wangero. From the beginning, Mama, the narrator, makes it clear that Dee is separate from her and Maggie. She …show more content…
Mama and Maggie are not the same as the people who Wangero surrounds herself with on a daily basis. They are content with what they have and do not see the civil rights movement as necessary for them, Maggie especially. Maggie exists in the shadow of her sister and represents everything that Wangero despises the most. Maggie does not embrace her western culture, she simply lives it without question. Mama aptly describes Maggie as “homely and ashamed of the burn scars” (Walker 155). Maggie wears clothes without any fashion, her features are plain, and she will marry a boy from her town. She also bears the burden of this life through her scars. Evidence suggests that Dee was the one who burned their house to the ground. This is held by the fact that Dee was already out of the house and had mentioned on several occasions that she detested it. In this, Dee marks her sister and Maggie must bear the consequences of Dee’s actions. Dee, however, has no physical marks from her actions and some may argue that guilt may have driven her to leave her town and go to school. However, guilt and remorse seem uncharacteristic of Dee, and she likely feels little more than pity for her now scarred sister. Maggie may hold some resentment for her sister because Dee is everything that Maggie is not, also she caused her harm. She and her rural culture will never accept or embrace the lifestyle that Wangero and Hakim have adopted because how they perceive their heritage is