Everyday Use By Alice Walker: Analyzing Heritage And Identit

Everyday Use by Alice Walker: Analyzing Heritage, Identity, and Family

Everyday Use by Alice Walker explores complex themes related to heritage, identity, and family through the narrative of an African American family. The story centers on an African American mother and her two daughters, Dee (Wangero) and Maggie, highlighting their differing perceptions of cultural heritage and personal identity. Walker's narrative employs vivid imagery and dialect to evoke the rural southern setting and to depict the nuanced relationships among the characters. This essay will analyze how Walker portrays the characters’ differing attitudes toward heritage and identity, and how these attitudes influence their relationships and perceptions of themselves.

Introduction

Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is a compelling exploration of African American heritage and familial relationships. The story is narrated by a mother reflecting on her daughters, Dee and Maggie, illustrating contrasting perspectives on cultural pride and identity. Walker uses rich symbolism and dialect to deepen the narrative, emphasizing themes of authenticity and misappropriation of heritage. This paper will analyze how Walker develops the characters' attitudes and how their perceptions reflect broader social and cultural issues.

Contrasting Characters and Their Attitudes Toward Heritage

The mother’s perspective provides crucial insight into the characters’ differing attitudes toward heritage. Maggie embodies the traditional, humble connection to family history. Her shuffling gait, scars from fire, and her attachment to the quilts underscore her grounded, practical appreciation of her cultural roots. Her understanding of heritage is woven into everyday life, emphasizing the importance of lived experience and continuity (Walker, 1973). Conversely, Dee, who later adopts the name Wangero, exemplifies a more superficial and aesthetic appreciation of heritage, seeking to use it as a fashion statement or social symbol. Her desire to possess family heirlooms, such as the quilts, symbolizes her view of heritage as something to be displayed or to elevate her social status (Walker, 1973).

Symbolism of the Quilts and Cultural Heritage

The quilts serve as central symbols of the characters’ different approaches to heritage. For Maggie, the quilts represent generations of family history, craftsmanship, and everyday use — a living legacy meant to be cherished and appreciated through daily life. Walker describes the quilts as stitched by hand, containing scraps of old dresses and family clothing, emphasizing their sentimental and historical value (Walker, 1973). Dee’s desire to display the quilts as art signifies her detachment from their everyday significance, illustrating her tendency to commodify or superficially value her culture (Walker, 1973). The mother’s decision to give the quilts to Maggie signifies a recognition that authentic heritage resides in lived experience rather than superficial display.

Identity and Cultural Appropriation

Dee/Wangero's transformation and her rejection of her given name reflect her evolving attitude toward her identity and cultural heritage. Her change of name symbolizes her rejection of the oppression associated with her family’s history and her attempt to adopt a more "authentic" African identity (Walker, 1973). However, her superficial use of cultural symbols and her emphasis on material possessions suggest a form of cultural appropriation rather than genuine understanding (Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, 1986). The story critiques this superficiality by contrasting Dee’s attitude with Maggie’s understated humility, illustrating that true cultural identity is rooted in everyday lived realities versus aesthetic or performative displays.

Family Dynamics and Social Commentary

Walker’s narrative also comments on broader issues of social change and the African American experience. The mother’s character embodies resilience and humility, valuing her family’s history and daily struggles. Dee’s character, on the other hand, symbolizes a younger generation seeking to redefine or reject their roots in pursuit of a modern or more refined identity (Walker, 1973). The story highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting the authenticity of one’s heritage and warns against the superficial adoption of cultural symbols without understanding their significance.

Conclusion

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker presents a nuanced portrayal of heritage and identity through its contrasting characters and symbolic elements. Walker emphasizes that authentic cultural heritage is rooted in individual and collective lived experiences, not superficial displays or aesthetic appreciation. The story advocates for a genuine connection to one’s history and underscores the importance of humility and humility in embracing one’s identity. Ultimately, the narrative challenges readers to reflect on how they perceive and value their cultural roots, urging a recognition that true heritage is found in the everyday practices, memories, and traditions passed down through generations.

References

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