Everyday Use Themes

The main themes in Alice Walker's “Everyday Use” are the Black Consciousness movement, rural versus urban Black identity, and tradition, heritage, and ownership.

  • The Black Consciousness movement: While Dee embraces the Black Consciousness movement and her African roots, she distances herself from her family and upbringing.
  • Rural versus urban Black identity: The strained relationship between Mama, Maggie, and Dee emphasizes the divide between rural and urban Black life.
  • Tradition, heritage, and ownership: Dee believes that her education gives her rightful ownership of the family quilts, but Mama bestows the quilts on Maggie, who retains a more authentic connection to the family’s cultural heritage.

Themes: All Themes

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Themes: The Black Consciousness Movement

Alice Walker published “Everyday Use” in 1973, in the midst of the Black Power movement. When Dee and her companion, Hakim-a-barber, emerge from their car, the reader is meant to understand that Dee’s loud yellow and orange dress, as well as her and Hakim-a-barber’s Afros, are signs of their identification with the movement, which encouraged its proponents to don African garb and to wear their hair in “natural,” or Afro, styles. To Mama and...

(Read more)

Themes: Rural versus Urban Black Identity

Mama and Maggie live in a three-room house with no windows. The house is in a pasture, where Mama maintains livestock. Their yard is “like an extended living room,” meaning that, for them, there is little delineation between indoor and outdoor space. Mama narrates that she “can work outside all day,” wash with ice, and cook pork over the open fire after killing and cleaning the hog herself. Mama asserts her independence and resourcefulness...

(Read more)

Themes: Tradition, Heritage, and Ownership

One of the central questions in the story is this: Who defines Black heritage? Is it those who have the education to understand the legacy of slavery, or is it those who have remained close to the ancestral lands in the South?

Dee thinks that she is more deserving of the quilts than Maggie because she knows, as a result of having attended college, that the patchwork quilts have historical significance. In her view, her knowledge should supersede...

(Read more)

Themes: Heritage

In "Everyday Use," heritage is a central theme explored through the contrasting perspectives of the characters. The story examines how heritage is understood and valued differently by each character, particularly through the opposing views of Dee and Maggie. Dee sees heritage as a collection of artifacts to be admired, while Maggie and Mama view it as a living tradition, integrated into daily life.

Dee's approach to heritage is superficial. She...

(Read more)

Expert Q&A

Analysis of Themes, Techniques, and Message in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use"

Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" explores themes of heritage and identity through rich figurative language and characterization. Walker uses metaphors, similes, and hyperbole to contrast Mama's and Dee's views on heritage. Mama and Maggie represent a genuine, everyday connection to their culture, while Dee's superficial appreciation is critiqued. Characterization highlights the tension between Dee's desire for cultural artifacts and Mama's preference for practical use. The story suggests that true heritage involves living traditions, not just displaying them. A strong thesis might explore how this conflict illustrates Walker's message about authentic cultural appreciation.

Narrative Perspective, Characterization, and Themes in "Everyday Use"

In Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," the setting plays a crucial role in highlighting the contrasting values between Dee and her family. The rural, humble home of Mama and Maggie emphasizes their practical, loving lifestyle, while Dee's urban life and quest for cultural artifacts underscore her detachment from family heritage. Key literary elements, such as irony and symbolism, enhance the theme of heritage as a living practice rather than a display. The mother's narrative perspective offers an unbiased view of the sisters' differences, which would be lost if told by either sister.

Explain the theme of betrayal in "Everyday Use."

Dee is the main character in this short story "Everyday Use." Dee is actually a white woman who was adopted by Mama and Daddy, who are African American. Dee has rejected her roots and tries to convince herself that she is African American. She wants to live with her Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bundy, who have more money than Mama and Daddy. Mama gives Dee some quilts that were used in their family for generations, but Dee rejects them because they aren't pretty enough for decoration. In the end of the story Mama gives the quilts to Maggie instead because she won't use them as decorations on walls.

Symbolism, Themes, and Setting in "Everyday Use"

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker explores themes of heritage and cultural identity through vivid imagery and symbolism. The story contrasts the practical, lived heritage of Mama and Maggie with Dee's superficial, aesthetic appreciation of her roots. The quilts, central symbols, represent this conflict: Dee desires them for display, while Mama intends them for Maggie's "everyday use," embodying true heritage. The setting and imagery highlight the disparities between Dee's new life and her family's rural simplicity, emphasizing the story's theme that heritage is best honored through daily life and use.

Feminist Themes in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" and Their Representation Through Female Characters

Feminist themes in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" are represented through the female characters' differing attitudes towards heritage and identity. Mama and Maggie embody a connection to their roots and practical use of cultural artifacts, while Dee represents a more superficial, external appreciation of her heritage, highlighting the varying feminist perspectives on tradition and self-identity.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Next

Themes: The Black Consciousness Movement

Loading...