Everyday Use Group at eNotes

Dee's idea of heritage involves things. In contrast, Maggie's and...

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:02:35 PST

Dee's idea of heritage involves things. In contrast, Maggie's and Mama's idea of heritage involves people. Dee wants the quilts and anything else that she thinks she can connect back to her African or early American roots to display or show people. When Mama asks Dee why she wants the quilts, she tells her that she wants to "hang them" and says with disgust: "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts! . . . She'd probably be backward...

What is Dee's idea of heritage in the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker?

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:27:50 PST

What is Dee's idea of heritage in the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker?

The mother had a dream that she would see Dee in a talk-show type...

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:46:33 PST

The mother had a dream that she would see Dee in a talk-show type program. We find that it is Johnny Carson's show, and in the dream she goes into a very bright and glitzy room after coming out of a dark limousine. She also sees herself a bunch of pounds lighter than she already is, and appearing very smart in front of the talk show host. We know that this is very far fetched from reality, and that in fact she is only having a great dream.

In "Everyday Use", where did Mama and Dee appear on the TV show?

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:15:32 PST

In "Everyday Use", where did Mama and Dee appear on the TV show?

Dee then suggests to her boyfriend that they having been mislead and...

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 06:09:20 PST

Dee then suggests to her boyfriend that they having been mislead and that they need to really rethink their heritage. The boyfriend disagrees and tries to convince Dee that their race has been held down and they need to do all possible to embrace their "new" way of thinking. Dee realizes that his view of reality is distorted and decides that she needs to go back to her ancestory roots and leaves the city to go back home.

She then takes Dee home to meet her boyfriend who is similar to her guy,...

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 20:34:34 PST

She then takes Dee home to meet her boyfriend who is similar to her guy, and Dee sees what a pretentious fool he is. Dee starts to think that she should change her behavior.

In reply to #2: I like it. That gives me some type of idea. Add...

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 19:35:48 PST

In reply to #2: I like it. That gives me some type of idea. Add another character to the story. Interesting. Thanks.

What if Dee was to run into people in the city where she spends time...

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 18:19:56 PST

What if Dee was to run into people in the city where she spends time with someone who is also superficial and pretentious, and she could see her reflection of character in that other person. She then goes home to apologize to her mother and sister.

If you had to write an ending for "Everyday Use" what direction would...

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 11:30:10 PST

I was thinking about having Dee leave and get back to the city and then have something happen that makes her question her new name and realize all along that she was denying her heritage by changing her name; however I'm not sure how to begin.

The story takes place in a rural area of Georgia where Maggie and her...

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:37:21 PST

The story takes place in a rural area of Georgia where Maggie and her mother have continued to live in their impoverished home. Dee had left home to go to college in Augusta, Georgia, with the financial help of her hard-working mother and their church. It is Dee's coming home for a visit that provides the inciting incident for the narrative. Dee's assuming a new African name and her enthusiasm for embracing her African heritage suggests the...

Where does "Everyday Use" take place?

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:35:15 PST

Where does "Everyday Use" take place?

This question has been previously asked and answered. Please see the...

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:01:57 PST

This question has been previously asked and answered. Please see the links below, and thank you for using eNotes.

Where and when does "Everyday Use" take place?

Wed, 20 May 2009 07:45:06 PST

Where and when does "Everyday Use" take place?

Dee left home so that she could venture out and find her true...

Wed, 6 May 2009 11:46:34 PST

Dee left home so that she could venture out and find her true "identity." She felt so helpless growing up in such an impoverished home. She was popular, outgoing and also pushy. She disliked her home and was ashamed of her family. She was hoping that going off to college that she could assume a new identity. She does this by changing her name and meeting other friends--such as her boyfriend, Hakim-a-barber. They come back to her...

Why did Dee leave home in "Everyday Use"?

Tue, 5 May 2009 17:04:15 PST

Why did Dee leave home in "Everyday Use"?

While none of the three women in "Everyday Use" change, as you say, from...

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:50:51 PST

While none of the three women in "Everyday Use" change, as you say, from beginning to end, the mother reaches a realization near the end of the story, and, thus, she is the only character who may be termed dynamic. In this humorous story, Dee, who thinks she has gone back to her African roots by changing her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, arrives from at the home of her youth where she hopes to pick up heirlooms that she can put on...

In "Everyday Use", do any of the characters change from the beginning...

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:58:35 PST

In "Everyday Use", do any of the characters change from the beginning to end of the story?

It is difficult to imagine sisters with more different views than Maggie...

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:56:49 PST

It is difficult to imagine sisters with more different views than Maggie and Dee, isn't it? What does the story tell us about Dee? She left, she changed her name, and she changed her hair. All of these changes were about starting anew. She tells her mother that "Dee" is dead. What does she want to do with some of the old objects around her mother's house, the churn top and the quilts, for example? She want to use them in some "artistic"...

Contrast Dee's and Maggie's views on heritage.

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:39:23 PST

Contrast Dee's and Maggie's views on heritage.

Dee has always been consumed by herself and her needs. She has always...

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:30:49 PST

Dee has always been consumed by herself and her needs. She has always been successful, popular and outgoing. So it is perfectly in her nature to just appear one day home from college. She did that because she wanted something: artifacts that prove her heritage. However, that heritage is the one reason she left for college years ago. She wanted nothing to do with the life that her mother and sister live every day. Dee wanted to make...