Everyday Use Symbolism Essay

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In most occasions, an object or character can be clearly explained by the author in order to give it symbolic meaning. Symbolism is the use of symbols to express or represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism can be used in color, shapes, images, mathematic equations, ect. Many things can symbolize more than what they actually mean. For example the Texas flag contains the color blue for loyalty, white for purity, and red for bravery. Therefore the Lone Star represents our unity as one for God, State, and Country. In Alice Walker 's 1973, short story "Everyday Use" she demonstrates the family disconnection that Dee has with Maggie and Mama Johnson. Suddenly, after many years Dee accompanied by Hakim-a-Barber, Dee goes out into the Deep South where Mama Johnson and Maggie live they went to visit them. Mama with so much excitement and enthusiasm waits for Dee, but Maggie in the other hand waits with fear and shame. Dee 's visit wasn 't to see her mother or …show more content…
White 's article verifies: "his appearance and language imply that he identifies with the Black Muslims." (3) Hakim-a-Barber argues: "I accept some of their doctrines, but farming and cattle is not my style." This reveals that Hakim-a-Barber is neglecting towards some of his cultural aspects. Hakim-a-Barber in “Everyday Use” does not eat pork Mama Johnson offers her in the kitchen table. Dee is a character that symbolizes the misrepresentation of heritage. In Spark Notes ' article titled "Themes, Motifs, and Symbols" portrays that "Dee has constructed a new heritage for herself and rejected her real heritage." (1) Dee conversing with her mother says "I couldn 't bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me." Wangero (Dee) denies the name that she suspects that the white folks have given her, but when in reality that name was given from her mother named after previous family
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