Everyday Use Group

Question:

stevenemery
stevenemery
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In the story "Everyday Use", why does Dee decide to change her name?

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Posted by stevenemery on Sunday October 19, 2008 at 2:25 PM and tagged with change, dee, everyday use, name.

Answers:

  1. sjp
    sjp Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Dee's name change is a great example of irony in this story. The reason that Dee gives for changing her name is that she doesn't want to go by her "slave name." She chooses an African name to better represents her family heritage. Of course, in doing this she actually separates herself from her family heritage (Dee was, in fact, a family name).  

    E-notes has some great resources on this story. 

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

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    Posted by sjp on Sunday October 19, 2008 at 2:43 PM

  2. cole01
    cole01 Student
    College - Freshman

     Dee changes her name because she wants to be more involved with carring out her culters beliefs. She wants her african culture to be part of her every day life!

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    Posted by cole01 on Thursday October 30, 2008 at 10:46 AM

  3. viola0212
    viola0212 Student
    College - Freshman

    Dee only thinks that they have to change her "slave name."However, she never thinks of the problem that when she changes her name, she also ruins their heritage.     

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    Posted by viola0212 on Tuesday November 18, 2008 at 7:15 PM