Everyday Use Conflict Analysis

Throughout the Story, “Everyday Use”, Alice Walker used conflict in between the main characters in order to contrast good and evil. Throughout the story, it is apparent that there was a difference in the way that Maggie and Dee were raised. Dee was given a lot of opportunities whereas Maggie wasn’t given much of anything. The author explains how Mama used what little money their family had left to send Dee off to schooling. Despite giving up everything for Dee, there was nothing given back in return. Not even did she not just give anything back to her family, but she even treats them as if they are on a lower level than her. Dee goes on to disrespect the people that gave up everything in order for her to have a better life, her family. The

She was saying now, furiously; for she has a temper. Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags, less than that.” (Walker 477) The tension started to boil over. Everything that has leads up to this moment, the imbalance and poor treatment have made Maggie who she is today, she is quick-tempered and cannot control her emotions. Especially when it comes to things associated with Dee. The author used loaded language in order emphasizes the word, “furiously” to show how Maggie felt about the situation. Maggie could be quick-tempered for many reasons. However, it is assumed that Maggie is sensitive to the imbalance between the two children and the relationship between the two characters is touchy. One poke and the whole thing could explode in seconds. This shows how the indirect evil acts from her mother, the creation of the imbalance, has affected someone who has done no wrong so poorly. However, the reader starts to understand the side of good in this story as well. Throughout the story, it is evident that Mama is going to give the quilts to Dee. One could only assume that she would, she has given everything that had any value you to the family to her despite the absence of her