Everyday Use By Alice Walker

1857 Words4 Pages

According to Stoker Wessel, author of "Shifting Views of Transcendence in Philosophy, Theology, Art, and Politics,” Transcendence is something that alienates a human from everyday life, but also something in which he or she can never be separated. It is known as immanent transcendence, meaning both realities are viewed as being closely involved with each other (Wessel). When reading Alice Walker's “Everyday Use,” you are presented with a story that explores the relationship between transcendence and everyday life. The three main characters give their audience a view of life in the rural South during the 1960s and the struggles of accepting their heritage. Symbolism and themes play major roles in understanding what Alice Walker is trying to …show more content…

Literature criticism author Helga Hoel said, “During the 1960s Walker criticized the tendency among some African Americans to give up the names their parents gave them names which embodied the history of their recent past for African names that did not relate to a single person they knew. Hence, the mother is amazed that Dee would give up her name for the name Wangero. For Dee was the name of her great-grandmother, a woman who had kept her family together against all odds. Wangero might have sounded authentically African, but she had no relationship to a person she knew, nor to the personal history that sustained her” (Hoel). Furthermore, Dee's name change to Wangero reflects her rejection of her family's history and her desire to embrace her African roots. This change symbolizes her attempt to distance herself from her upbringing and assert her individuality. In contrast, Maggie's name remains unchanged, symbolizing her continuity with her family's heritage and her acceptance of her roots. Her name reflects her humility and her connection to the everyday traditions passed down through generations. Even Mama's name, which is not explicitly mentioned in the story, represents her role as the maternal figure who holds the family together and preserves their heritage. Overall, the names of the characters serve as symbols of their identities and relationships to their heritage, highlighting the themes of tradition, authenticity, and cultural pride in the

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