The short story, “Everyday Use,” written by Alice Walker and first published in 1973, deals with the inherent conflict between racial heritage and modernism. This conflict is best observed in the characters of Maggie and her mother, and Dee or Wangero. In this respect, the plot revolves around the Johnson family in the rural South where Dee pays a visit after spending a number of years in urban America. Here, differences are expressed whereby Maggie and her mother are shocked by the changes that Dee has undergone, both physical and attitude, while away from home. Hence, the said story espouses that modernism contradicts with loyalty to one’s racial heritage, in that a person’s attempts to forego with his or her racial character in exchange for modernity necessitates embracing a newer set of principles that are aimed towards self-superiority and materialistic attitude.
In a way, Walker’s story reveals to the readers the change brought about by modernism, specifically education and capitalism, to the African American culture. This is especially evident in Dee, whereby she seems aghast with the ‘old’ traditional ways of both her mother and her younger sister. Such can be seen in the narration of the mother pertaining to Dee: “Sheburned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know. Pressed us with the serious way she readlike dimwits” (Walker 316). What is apparent in these lines is Dee’s own sense of superiority over her mother and Maggie, resulting from the former’s high degree of educational attainment. As such, Dee’s modernity through education seems to produce a conflict wherein she no longer holds importance towards her own heritage, and in fact sees herself better than her own family. Maggie herself expresses this sense of supremacy when she states, “It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it” (Walker 321). As such, it is clear from the arguments presented that at least for Dee, modernity means foregoing with one’s own heritage and being superior by acquiring modern traits.
Dee’s abandon of her own heritage can also be evidenced by her attitude towards the quilts. Here, Dee perceives it only for its excellent traditional craftsmanship and nor for its real meaning on her family’s heritage. As such Dee laments her mothers’ decision that Maggie should be the one to own it when she states, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!She’s probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” (Walker 320). Moreover, it may be safe to deduce that Dee’s exposure to Western ideologies, hence modernity, allowed her to regard the quilts minus its racial essence and instead simply see it as a material item of high financial value. This attitude seems to originate from Dee’s embrace of modern attitude that replaces a person’s importance on racial heritage with capitalistic intentions.
Walker’s short story not only deals superficially with the conflicts of the Johnson family but with conflicts brought about by modernity. This is especially apparent in the case of Dee, whereby her education and exposure to urban America have resulted to altering her own name and having a sense of superiority over her own racial heritage, symbolized by Maggie and her mother. In all of these aspects, what becomes clear is that over-pursuit of modernity has the potential to contradict with one’s racial values, in that a person ceases to give importance to the things that his or her race cherish.
Work cited
Walker, Alice. Everyday Use. “In Love and Trouble.” 1973. Print.
