Maggie And Dee In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

A human’s first instinct is to judge others without actually knowing the person. In the short story, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, are very distinct characters. At first glance, it seems that the older sister Dee is quite successful and is a stronger individual while her younger sister, Maggie is quite backward and weak. However, an examination of their appearances, words, and other character’s opinions of them, we see that they are quite different than what we see on the surface. Maggie, the younger sister, is not the stereotype of a typical little girl. She has a “... thin body…” (50) is seemingly frail, and not pretty because of her burn scars. Maggie was involved in a terrible “accident,” when she was younger. She was caught in her family’s house fire and has “burn scars down her arms and legs” (50). The stereotype for a typical little girl is someone who is dainty, full of life, and innocent. Maggie’s appearance definitely contributes to her shyness and self consciousness.
Maggie’s words throughout the story provides the readers with the perspective that she is the type to not want conflict or to make the situation worse than it already is. She will give up items that she values just to keep tension away. In the story, Dee wants the quilts that were …show more content…
The sisters, Maggie and Dee, differ in appearance, words, and other characters’ opinions of them. Through the reader's first viewpoint it seems as Dee is the stronger and more successful character, while Maggie is backward and weak. However, through a closer look the readers are able to see that Maggie is not at all what she seemed; in fact, her individuality is stronger than Dee’s. People will judge others at first sight because of human instinct. When one does not know a person's true qualities, he or she can often make wrong judgements about that