Living History’s “Everyday Use”
Setting is the foundation of a story! It is a powerful tool that an author uses to create a stronger theme and characters. In the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, Dee returns from college to her mother and sister with much to say about the humble lifestyle she left. The author specifically chooses to use setting to add complexity to the characters of Mama and Maggie who are reflective of the place they live in. The author uses all these things to point to the irony of the growth Dee has done while at college. These perspectives and attitudes represent two different sets of values. Both perspectives put emphasis on honoring those who have come before them, but Mama and Maggie take a more immediate family-oriented perspective on what heritage looks like, while Dee digs deeper into the older heritage the people before her shared. While knowing deep ancestry can be important, empowering and eye opening, Maggie and Mama’s humble family values …show more content…
“It looks like Asalamalakum wants to shake hands but wants to do it fancy. Or maybe he don't know how people shake hands. Anyhow, he soon gives up on Maggie.” Mama sees this as unnecessary, and to Maggie confusing. When Dee tells Mama that she changed her name because she “could no longer bear” being named after those who oppressed her, Mama is confused and hurt. Mama thinks Dee is overthinking the situation. "I said, "before 'Dicie' cropped up in our family, so why should I try to trace it that far back?" Mama sees Dee’s way of thinking as somewhat flawed. The contrast of Dee’s character with the setting helps Mama to begin to see this. How Dee and her boyfriend are acting fees almost silly to Mama. ”He told me to just call him Hakim a barber. I wanted to ask him was he a barber, but I didn't really think he was, so I didn't ask.” Mama begins to see Maggie’s value through how ill placed Dee
Setting is the foundation of a story! It is a powerful tool that an author uses to create a stronger theme and characters. In the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, Dee returns from college to her mother and sister with much to say about the humble lifestyle she left. The author specifically chooses to use setting to add complexity to the characters of Mama and Maggie who are reflective of the place they live in. The author uses all these things to point to the irony of the growth Dee has done while at college. These perspectives and attitudes represent two different sets of values. Both perspectives put emphasis on honoring those who have come before them, but Mama and Maggie take a more immediate family-oriented perspective on what heritage looks like, while Dee digs deeper into the older heritage the people before her shared. While knowing deep ancestry can be important, empowering and eye opening, Maggie and Mama’s humble family values …show more content…
“It looks like Asalamalakum wants to shake hands but wants to do it fancy. Or maybe he don't know how people shake hands. Anyhow, he soon gives up on Maggie.” Mama sees this as unnecessary, and to Maggie confusing. When Dee tells Mama that she changed her name because she “could no longer bear” being named after those who oppressed her, Mama is confused and hurt. Mama thinks Dee is overthinking the situation. "I said, "before 'Dicie' cropped up in our family, so why should I try to trace it that far back?" Mama sees Dee’s way of thinking as somewhat flawed. The contrast of Dee’s character with the setting helps Mama to begin to see this. How Dee and her boyfriend are acting fees almost silly to Mama. ”He told me to just call him Hakim a barber. I wanted to ask him was he a barber, but I didn't really think he was, so I didn't ask.” Mama begins to see Maggie’s value through how ill placed Dee