Symbolic References in Everyday Use by Alice Walker

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Symbolism is what a person represents. Symbolism can be an object, person, situation, events or actions that have a deeper meaning in context. The dove is a symbol of peace. A red rose or red color stands for love or romance. Black is a symbol that represents evil or death. A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between the heaven and the earth. A broken mirror may symbolize separation. Symbolism is a meaning of heritage from the past ancestors like quilts, butter churns, front yards, and knowing how to make quilts from old dresses can represent symbolism. For example quilts can represent what the family from the past have done and what their experienced on. In this short story ‘Everyday Use’ all the objects represent symbolism.
This short story ‘Everyday Use’ by Alice Walker has a strong representation of heritage and symbolism. It shows how objects have been passed from their ancestors which indicate symbolism. In ‘Everyday Use’ there are three amazing woman Dee (Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo), Mama Johnson, and Maggie. But Dee is way different she is totally a misrepresentation of heritage and is a beautiful young woman. Maggie and Mama Johnson have a strong representation on their heritage and still live the way they were raced. Dee comes and visits Mama and Maggie she takes some valuable things that Mama Johnson had kept. But when it gets to the point where she wants to take some quilts that Big Dee and Mama had done she starts arguing with her mother and

Martinez4 her mother tells her no Maggie stayed somewhat in shock because ‘no’ was not a word Dee was used to hearing.
Dee is the oldest daughter of Mama Johnson. Eventough she is pretty and has the nice hair and everything she is totally a misrepresentation of her he...

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...nd appreciate them.

Works Cited

Bmad, Nick. “Symbolism in Walkers ‘Everyday Use’.” Enotes. N.p., 4 July 2007 web. 17 Mar 2014.
Eshbaugh, Ruth. “A Literary Analysis of Alice Walker’s Short Story ‘Everyday Use’.” YAHOO!VOICES. Yahoo, Inc., 21 Aug 2008. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Foleylan. “Conflict, Irony, and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’.” Studymode. N.p., Jun 2012. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Researchomatic Editors. “Themes and Symbols of Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’.” Researchomatic. N.p., May 2011. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Spark Notes Editors. “Themes, Motifs, and Symbols.” Sparknotes Sparknotes LLC, N.d., Web. 17 Mar 2014.
White, David. “’Everyday Use’: Defining African American Heritage.” Luminarium. Annina Jokinen, 19 Sep 2002. Web. 17 Mar 2014.
Velazquez, Juan R, “Characterization and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’.” Lonestar. N.p., n.d Web. 17 Mar 2014.

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