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Alice Walker Characterization

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Throughout history, the use of characterization in literary pieces has gained a strong reputation as a method to transmit ideas to the reader and to reveal details about a character. Accordingly, this is the case of Everyday Use, a short story written by the American novelist Alice Walker. In this narrative, Ms. Walker utilizes direct/indirect characterization to show the attributes, qualities and moral disadvantages of the characters involved in the story. She also employs this literary device in order to establish differences between the analytical approaches towards African-American culture, and finally, she uses epiphanies in order to define the moments of the characters’ changes in the story. At the beginning of the story, Mama immediately …show more content…

Walker utilizes this literary device to convey meaning about a transition that a person undergoes in the story. A clear example of this trend is seen when Dee comes back from college in Augusta since it is explicitly noticeable that she has different thoughts about her culture than the ones that she used to have. A short excerpt that highlights this change in mentality is discerned when Dee tells her mom that she “doesn’t understand her heritage” (Walker 321), meaning that even though she used to be ashamed of her family and lifestyle, she seems to have a somewhat better understanding of her culture (epiphany). However, one could argue that Walker’s purpose when using this literary device is not necessarily meant to just highlight the change in the character, but rather to set up the beginning of the climax in the story by pointing out the importance of it by using characterization. In summary, Alice Walker uses direct/indirect characterization to reveal the thoughts and feelings of the characters involved in the story. In addition, she establishes differences between how people regard the African-American culture according to their experiences and uses symbols (quilts) that allow the reader to discern the contrasts between those approaches. Finally, she uses epiphanies to highlight changes in a character’s feelings and thoughts according to their respective

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Occasion: Alice Walker writes the story to draw attention to the mindset of the minorities. Walker was an activist. “Everyday Use” is a short story within a collection documenting the stories of black women, such as Alice Walker herself. Audience: Walker writes the story for everyone to read.

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Alice walker in Everyday Use demonstrates the understanding of African American heritage. Understanding your heritage is important because you should always look back on where you came from. Where you came from is such a big part of who you are and is something know one can take away from you. When you understand your heritage, you get to pass it on to others. Walker does this by using characterization, symbolism, and theme.

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This womanist conceptualization is shown by a nuanced destruction by Dee’s response to the quilt, which is the main metaphor in the story. A typical political rhetoric is represented in the character of Dee. This is a rhetoric which is more aggressive than mature, showier than subtle. Dee ends up in simplifying and commodifying culture, instead of relating it to any meaningful way. She comes out as a being who takes activism as a fad rather than a commitment.

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