Quilt

The theme of this story is about the struggle of keeping family tradition in modern times. In modern culture, many family traditions are crumbling and falling apart due to modernization. In Everyday Use by Alice Walker, we are introduced to Mama, an African American woman with “big bones and rough man working hands.” Mama acts as both the mother and father in the story, doing motherly acts such as seeing her daughter’s outfits, but also “working outside all day” and even “knocking a bull calf…

she had knowledge about the quilts and antiques. Maggie resembled many of the African people in the 70s. She wasn't as smart and couldn’t…

portrayed as condescending and unappreciated of her mother and sister. Their contrasting characteristics add to the conflict of identities in the story. This conflict is demonstrated in how they wanted to use the quilt. Dee, a more worldly educated person only wanted to hang up the quilt like a piece of art, while Maggie would put it to everyday use. Dee’s interpretation of family heritage has to do with her background, and chosen identity. Dee neglected her immediate family’s culture and looked…

The quilts that Dee wants from her mother are family treasures and while Dee wants to preserve them, Maggie wants to use them how they are supposed to be used. Quilts are made to be used and worn out, which is exactly the opposite of what Dee wants to use them for. The mother realizes that quilts are meant to be used and although they should be treasured, setting them aside to preserve them does them no justice because they are not being used as intended. Rarely do people make family quilts for…

Sofia to be beaten by her husband. When she and her husband fought, they accidentally wrecked a gift from Celie to Sofia: curtains. After reconciling, Celie and Sofia repurpose the curtains into a quilt. The torn curtains represent Celie’s and Sofia’s broken relationship, and as they are transformed into a quilt, their relationship mends and endures. While the curtains are tattered, so too is the friendship of Celie and Sofia. Celie initially gifted curtains to Sofia as a display of…

unattractive girl. In contrast, Dee has better education, yet full of ambition and confidence. When Dee go back home, the reader can tell that Dee is a greedy woman. She tries to take the quilts for her own. From mama’s point of view, heritage should be put in everyday use and passing down. However, Dee seen these quilts as display in museum because she thinks they are priceless. The theme of this story is that the meaning of heritage could be various through different views and it could be…

beautiful work in embroidery, weaving, and quilting added color and life to vernacular interiors and allowed women an edifying display of their social contribution.” This quote symbolizes the hard work and dedication that women contributed for this quilt. The quilt entitled “Women’s Work” expresses the diversity and…

cultural identity. Lastly, the quilt was viewed by the mother as just an everyday quilt that she promised to her daughter, Maggie; especially after Dee scoffed at the old quilts when initially offered to her by her mother. However, to Dee, the quilt served as a symbolic representation of the family heritage. Therefore, it is no surprise that possession of the quilts became a point of contention between mother and daughter, Dee. Scholars reason that, 'Dee sees the quilt as a reflection of…

mother and her two Daughters on a small farm in Georgia post-Civil Rights act. Dee, the oldest daughter, wants the quilts that were hand stitched by her Grandmother, but Mama promised them to Maggie. Mama and Dee see these quilts in two totally different ways. Mama sees the quilts as quits nothing else, but Dee looks at them in a more sentimental way. Dee wants to hang these quilts up as a symbol of her family’s heritage. Maggie…

A conflict between two people can bring out someone’s true feelings about a topic. In the short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker, the main character, Mama, and her daughter, Dee, don’t get along very well. Because of this conflict, Mama expresses her feelings about a couple topics. The most important conflict in Everyday Use is between Mama and Dee because this conflict shows Mama’s true feelings towards Dee and towards her own heritage. Mama’s feelings towards Dee are shown when she…