Symbolism In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

The short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, concentrates on the lives of two sisters, Maggie and Dee. Growing up together under the same conditions clearly created two very distinct individuals with contrasting views regarding their past, present, and future. Walker uses quilts to symbolize the heritage and describes the two girls' view on quilts to show their perspectives on heritage. Maggie thinks of heritage as an attachment to her ancestors. She believes the everyday use of the inherited materials, how much ever value they may retain, will keep her connected to her ancestors. She values the attachment to the ancestors more than the inherited material itself. When she gives up the quilts to Dee, she states, "I can 'member Grandma Dee

with the quilts." (Line 318) Dee, on the other hand, thinks of heritage as something that has an extrinsic value, for example its aesthetic value as an antique. She believes that the proper way to accept and preserve her heritage is to not put it into her everyday use but to cherish it only as an accessory. Such an idea is revealed when Dee says, "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts! She'd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use." When the mother asks Dee what she would do with the quilts, she says, "Hang them" (Line 312), which shows that Dee thinks of the quilts only as tangible antiques.
The story begins with Mama and Maggie waiting for the arrival of Dee.

Dee had moved away to attend a college in Augusta. She was the only one from her family to receive that level of education. Her decision to go to school caused a deeper separation gap between her family and her. As Dee is stepping out of the car, “I hear Maggie suck in her breath.” “Uhnnnh.” (Lines 124-125) Dee arrives wearing a stylish dress that is colored brightly with orange and yellow. Walker describes it as, “A dress so loud it hurts my eyes.” (Line 128) She is accessorized with different types of gold jewelry as a sign that she is succeeding on her own. She is marking her independence and showing that she is strong. A significant other accompanied her. It is unclear to the others his connection with her, but he is presumed to be her husband. There was not any sign of affection, which proves that she is not very emotional and does not want to show any signs of attachment towards another individual. This is because years ago she had been left by a man whom ended up marrying a girl from the city. She wants to show she is strong again and does not require a man, or anyone else to make her life seem complete. Dee seems to shut out the world surrounding her. She wants to give off the persona that she does not require others in her life. She can achieve whatever she is set after. She likes having a feeling of power and superior over others. Dee has always seen herself as someone of a higher class, which

is above her family and that of her past. “At sixteen she had a style of her own and knew what style was.” (Lines 92-93)
Dee has announced that she has decided to change her name (Wangero.) She states that the reason for the rash decision is because, "I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after people who oppress me." (Lines 182-183) This is another example of her marking her separation. In another sense, she is marking her own territory. She knows that she was named Dee after many generations dating back to the Civil War. She wants to be her own person and not associated with anyone from her past. She had no real appreciation towards anything that she had growing up. Dee is one of those people that always seem to have a reason for their actions. During her visit, she was taking pictures of her house and asking for some of the everyday household items. She wanted to use them in her own home. Her purpose for this was for show. She wanted to be associated as someone who owned valuable things. She was always concerned with the way that people looked at her, and not caring how she was raised. As she was looking around she spotted two handmade quilts that contain scraps of clothe that date back to the Civil War. Dee only wanted these quilts to hang on her walls for show as usual. To her surprise Mama has already promised them to Maggie. At this point Dee becomes very upset and says, “Maggie would be backwards enough to put them to everyday use.” (Lines 297-298) Dee puts value on these quilts and cannot imagine the deeper meaning of them. She sees them with a very different perspective, especially from Maggie.
Maggie is almost the complete opposite of her sister. She does not agree with her sister on many aspects, but she does look up to her. Maggie has very low self-esteem. Walker describes her as, “Walking with chin on her chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle, ever since the fire that burned the house to the ground.” (Lines 62-64) Not only did it leave her with horrifying memories, but with scars that mark her arms and face. This has caused her to be unattractive compared to her sister. Being the younger of the two, I feel she is looked down upon. She has not experienced as much of life as Dee. But, she still manage to keep her spirits up with the help of her mother. Throughout her years she have learned to love herself and don’t care what people think about her, unlike her sister. Yet, she seems to value it more. She does not have any wishes to change her way of life. She has remained uneducated like her mother, but remains proud of who she is and what she stands for. At times there is jealousy towards Dee, because, she feel as if her sister is more her mother’s favorite. Maggie has a close relationship with her mom. They seem to share a lot of the same views and values. Maggie has learned to appreciate her heritage and does not wish to change it. To her, the quilts are anything but simple scraps of clothe sewn together. They have so much meaning. Maggie states, “She can have them Mama, I can 'member Grandma Dee without the quilts." (Lines 316-318) This shows that she does not want the quilts as merely just a reminder of the important people in her life. She wants them because they are from her past. She wants them for sentimental value. She admits to putting them to "everyday use." She is not one to use them to show off or to sell. Maggie and her mother share so many family values. They both seem to be very happy and content with their way of life. They are not rich, but they are living life to the fullest. Even if that mean they are getting by barely. But, they always manage to make ends meet. They are not depending on nobody but each other. Towards the end of the story, “Maggie smiles a real smile, not scared when given the quilts.” (Lines 346-347) At this point she comes to the realization that she deserves the quilts. She has the right outlook on life and realizes the true value of these quilts.
Alice Walker used these two characters to carry out a deeper meaning to the story.

It showed her definition of wealth and how she appreciates the little things in life without necessarily putting a value on them. Maggie and Dee are two very different characters. Each one lacks in areas that the other seems to possess. The two sisters did not share a bond throughout any part of their life. In fact they did not even say anything to each other until Dee was leaving. They never really cared to speak to each other because Maggie didn’t feel her sister care about her. By the way she use to talk down about her. Dee intimidates Maggie with her fierce ways of getting her point across. Maggie being the shyer of the two does not have a whole lot to say in order to defend her. She depends on her mom to fight her battles. This story has a good moral lesson to appreciate the things you have and to accept who you are. Never let your pride and ego get in the way of your dignity. And, I also believe Alice Walker, was trying to show that no matter how you look to yourself others make their decision off your ways. No matter what Dee had to say mama and Maggie stayed true to how they felt about their heritage, and will continue to live their life and appreciate everything past, present, and future. No matter what love yourself and don’t ever forget or try to change where you come from to be acceptable in someone else’s

sight.