Essay
Everyday use is a short story by Alice Walker, from her story collection “In love and Trouble”. The storytelling of the “Everyday use” is made by “Mama”, who is a narrator of the story. “Everyday use” by Alice Walker illustrates very well the difference between the narrator and her daughter, Maggie, both raised according to traditional black culture of their region and Dee “Wangero”, educated and successful daughter of Mrs. Johnson, which tries to scorn her roots in favor of the native African identity.
Narrator’s tone, addressed to Dee shows that Mrs. Johnson still considers “Wangero” as her daughter, with no matter about the changes happened to Dee while she left their family house. Mrs. Johnson even regret that she couldn’t please all Dee’s requests in their past.
Here comes the main conflict of the story – the difference between Dee’s and Maggie’s capabilities. Maggie and Dee are sisters, but they’re very different if we contrast or compare them. Dee used to do everything on her own because her mother has never made Dee’s wishes come true. After the end of her education, Wangero left their family’s house for a new, good life. That resulted in what can be seen through the story plot – she came as an attractive, educated lady Wangero. The other way had her sister Maggie – the daughter who still stays on her family’s farm. She hadn’t Dee’s opportunities and ambitions; her introversion comes from the childhood, when their old house was set on fire. Ugly, gross scars pushed her into herself, making the person which can be seen now. Maggie can’t make her life as she wants it to, still wishing her future to be fine. But everything in what she is sure that her life won’t be good with John Thomas, her future husband. She isn’t going to be the wife, but only the slave servant. These thoughts, along with the achievements of Wangero makes Maggie understand that her life just passed by.
Two old quilts, which were passed down from generation to generation is only the thing, they have in common – the history of their family, which was pushed away by Wangero, in order to have a better life and another culture. That’s why she comes home after she became successful – to show people that she either has the ancient roots and a rich history. Maggie, who didn’t leave her home for a better life has more rights to have these quilts. She has a right to add a new fabric piece of her own history to these quilts. She wants to pass this item to her children, making them proud of their legacy. That’s why when Dee comes to grab these quilts, already promised to be given to her sister; Maggie becomes really angry and enraged, also envying to Wangero’s achievements. But even after this, Maggie still tries to win a favor of Dee by offering these quilts. This action makes Mama feel both pity and angry to Maggie, because her daughter hasn’t a will and pride at all.
This story can be very similar to everyday families: each family has its own legacy and history. But the same conflict can come if the family has two or more children, who wants to “add a new fabric” to their legacy. The main complexity comes only when the parents consider the child, who deserves to continue their heritage more than another. And as for me, this decision is a very hard for every parent, because children must have the same rights as their brothers or sisters, not more or less.
