Analyzing The Use Of Generational Quilts In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

In the story, “Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker, a single mother who lives with her two children on a small, working farm is introduced. Her youngest child, Maggie, was forced to endure severe burns at a young age when she was left in a burning house which she moved out of with her mother and Dee. As a result, her arms and legs were both covered with burnt skin. The mothers oldest child, Dee, had always been a spoiled person and was never once familiar with being told “no.” She decided to move out of her household, change her name which she had gone by since she was born, and meet a man who she would eventually call her husband. Dee eventually comes back to her mom and Maggie to introduce her partner, Asalamalakim and pick up some quilts that

During the time she is there, she asks her mom to lend her some of the old, generational quilts that her mother kept. While the mom is making her decision, Dee demands for her to give her the quilts, saying that Maggie would ruin them if mother let her keep them. The quilt symbolizes the heritage created by many past generations and how it should never be forgotten, carried on into the future. The change of names that Dee did symbolizes how generational history slowly begins to deteriorate as time passes. Dee is a great example of someone who doesn't really appreciate heritage and isn't true to herself. Finally, the quilt and the name change both contribute to the theme of heritage and how it must be carried on for generations to

Dee is a great example of someone who isn't true to her roots and doesn't really appreciate heritage. When the mother first found out about Dee’s name change the first thing she asked was, “‘What happened to ‘Dee?’ I wanted to know. ‘She's dead,’ Wangero said. ‘ I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.’ ‘You know as well as me you were named after your aunt Dicie,’ I said…’but who was she named after?’ asked Wangero. ‘I guess after grandma Dee,’ I said. ‘And who was she named after?’ asked Wangero. ‘Her mother,’ I said'' (Walker 25). Despite knowing that her name traced back many generations, Dee still proceeds to keep her new name, separating herself from the family. This old name will die when she changes it, ruining the streak that the family had. The name change only proves that she doesn't care enough about her own family heritage and is actually against it. It displays how heritage cannot last and eventually has to die