Analysis Of Maggie In Everyday Use

Maggie is an undeniably insecure girl. She lacks any self-confidence and is very quiet. She doesn’t speak her mind very much, and this is because of her insecurities. Maggie’s insecurities stem from her sister, Dee. Dee had many things that Maggie never had. Dee was beautiful and had an education, things Maggie had always wanted. Maggie lacks confidence because she lived in her sister’s shadow her entire life. Dee was always very confident in herself. She knew she was blessed with many things like beauty and an education. She was aware that she had a good life. She had always gotten what she wanted; everything came easy for her. Maggie “thinks her sister has held life always in the palm of her hand, that “no” is a word the world never learned

Dee got a very good education. The girls’ mother raised money with the church to get Dee to school in Augusta. An opportunity Maggie did not get to have. While at school, Dee got a good education and became very smart. She grew into a woman and gained her own knowledge and insight on life. Dee liked to show off her knowledge to people. This always made others feel unsatisfactory about themselves, especially Maggie. “Pressed us to her with the serious way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to understand” (Walker 2). Maggie did not have as much of an education as Dee and she wasn’t very smart. She would sometimes read to her mother, but stumble upon the words. She could not see very well. Maggie knows she isn’t very bright, which is another reason her self-confidence is low. “Like good looks and money, quickness passes by her” (Walker 2). Maggie always knew that Dee was smarter than

Dee had a few friends that she would spend her time with. She had a few guy friends and a few girl friends. Dee’s friends were always impressed with her. They were impressed by the shape of her body, by her humor, and by her education. Dee liked to read to her friends. It is never mentioned in the story whether Maggie has friends or not, so it is easy to assume that she doesn’t. It’s hard to spend life alone and not have anyone to spend time with. If Maggie had friends, she might have had more confidence in herself. She wouldn’t feel like this was something else Dee had above her. This was the way it was though, and Dee continued to have things that Maggie never had. Dee had lived a life where she always wanted nice things. She always wanted more and was never satisfied. Most of it usually included her style. She always wanted a new dress or new shoes for some occasion and wouldn’t give up until she got it. Dee learned how to make nice clothes out of old hand-me-downs and was very talented when it came to fashion. “…a green suit she made from an old suit somebody gave me” (Walker 2). Maggie did not have any skills in fashion or really any interest, but this was still a skill that Dee had over