Everyday Use By Alice Walker Summary

An Analysis of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker Much of Alice Walker’s inspiration for “Everyday Use” came from her own life in the rural Georgia (Kelly 459). The writings of Alice Walker are narrations of the life she depicts of women from her youth into adulthood. A major author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from the 1960s into the 21st century, Walker emphasizes the often-overlooked perspectives of women, African Americans, and especially African American women in her work (Abbott 120). Her use of character, imagery, and symbolism make Walker’s writings of fiction seem more non-fiction. Walker’s short stories give examples of what her life was like from her character’s point of view. In the short-story” Everyday Use,” Walker speaks about the life of a mother and her two very different daughters. “Everyday Use” is about the relationship between a mother and her two daughters, one whom has forgotten her roots and tries to abandon her past and create a new persona, while using her heritage as an art form.
The symbolism of quilts and a butter churn described a life of beauty, tranquility, …show more content…
Walker uses imagery all so well to bring an artistic light in “Everyday Use.” Dee goes off to college and comes home a very different person. She expects to take her mother’s quilts and hang them in her own home as art; she even requested the churn top to use as table décor and the churn paddle to use as a prop for umbrellas to place at her front door. Dee obviously chose to forget where she comes from, but mother and Maggie remained humble. Walker’s moral of the story is never to forget where you come from. “Maggie smiled; maybe at the sunglasses. But a real smile, not scared. After we watched the car dust settle I asked Maggie to bring me a dip of snuff, and then the two of us sat there just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed (Walker, “Everyday