Everyday Use Group

Question:

wade88
wade88
Student
Graduate School

What is the importance of names in "Everyday Use"?

For example, what does “Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo”?

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Posted by wade88 on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 8:04 PM and tagged with everyday use, names, symbolism, themes.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Names are very important in Walker's fine short story "Everyday Use." They represent a relationship to heritage and identity. When Dee renames herself Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, she's trying to claim the right and ability to control her own destiny. She wants to be the person she decides she should be. That's admirable, but she does so in a way that sets aside her family's heritage, and, in a way, shows a lack of respect for it. Dee doesn't see it this way.  She says, "I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me." For her, the heritage isn't one of pride, but of oppression, even shame.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/everyday-use/themes

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    Posted by gbeatty on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 12:00 PM