Symbolism in Everyday Use by Alice Walker

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Recommended: heritage in Alice Walker's everyday use.

When an object is being expressed or represented by different ideas it is called symbolism. Symbolism is used everywhere. For example symbolism is used in physics when you have this equation W=Fxd. The letter W represents how much work is done by force, F represents the force on the object when it’s in motion, and d represents the distance the object is moving while force is acting on it. Another example is the traffic light each light symbolizes something, red is to stop, yellow is for precaution, and green is to go. Symbolism can also be in sports for example, in soccer when the ref gives you a red card it symbolizes that you are out of the game because you committed a fault.

In the short story Mama Johnson and Maggie are waiting for Dee in the front yard. Dee had gone to Augusta to school and it was the first time she had gone to visit them. When Dee arrives Mama Johnson gets surprise because Dee tells her that she has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. While Mama Johnson and Maggie think that Dee has come to visit them, Dee just wants to get family objects that are good for art pieces. The conflict started when Dee wanted to take some quilts that had been quilted by Grandma Dee and Big Dee. Mama Johnson disagrees with Dee because she had promised the quilts to Maggie for when she gets married. In “Everyday Use”, Alice Walker uses symbolism to show how important culture and the family’s history are important to Mama Johnson and Maggie.

The characters of the story are an example of symbolism. Mama Johnson is mother of Dee and Maggie. Alice Walker describes Mama Johnson as, “a large

big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” Mama Johnson is symbolize as a true representation of heritage. According to Julie ...

... middle of paper ...

...ects and family history was, she just wanted the things for art pieces. Mama Johnson and Maggie were a true representation of their family and culture.

Works Cited

Bmad,Nick. “Symbolism in Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’.”Enotes. N.p., 4 July 2007.

Web.17 Mar 2014.

Moore, Julie. “Heritage and Symbolism In Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday

Use’. “YAHOO! VOICES. Yahoo,Inc., 29may 2007.Web.17mar 2014.

Spark Notes Editors.” Theme, Moties, and Symbols.” Sparknotes.Sparknotes

LLC, N.d., Web.17mar2014.

Velazquez, Juan R. “Characterization and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday

Use’.”Lonestar.N.p.,n.d. Web. 17Mar2014.

Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” Heritage of American Literature.Ed. James E.

Miller 2nd Austin: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.1991.714.Print

Writework Editors. “Symbolism in ‘Everyday Use’ by Alice

Walker.”Writework.N.p., may2006.Web.17mar2014.

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