Mama In The Short Story Everyday Use By Alice Walker

In the short story, Everyday Use, by Alice Walker, the story is narrated by a black woman, who we later learn is Mama. The short story begins by introducing the character we come to know as Maggie. Mama talks about how Maggie was in a fire and it shows that Mama is trying her best to uplift Maggie's insecurities because the fire damaged her skin, it shows that she is very shy and vulnerable about the way that she looks.
As the story progresses, another character is introduced, Dee. Dee is the oldest sister from Mama and comes off as if she's better than everyone else. She left home and came back a completely different person and the entire situation seems to make Maggie extremely uncomfortable. In the beginning, Mama discusses how Dee is the famous girl on a television show that is finally being able to reunite with her family. Mama puts Dee on …show more content…
When Dee arrives home she brings her friend, Hakem-a-barber, and continues to act as if she went off and got an education, therefore she knows more than anybody. As the family eats dinner, Dee is made aware that Maggie is getting married to a gentleman. Dee is clearly bothered by this information because she notices that in her mother's eyes, Maggie is starting to become the one that Mama is focused on more. Dee fails to realize that this action is caused by the fact that Dee left for 6 years and only sent her family 2 letters. Dee was named after her grandmother and proceeded to change her name, not caring about the significance that name carries considering that the grandmother passed away. After dinner, Dee takes notice of some quilts that her mama and grandmother made and took an extreme interest in them and asked mama if she can have them. Mama told Dee that the quilts were for Maggie when she moves away with her husband, which instantly