While reading Everyday Use, written by Alice Walker, as a reader you come to find out when looking at the two sisters, Maggie and Dee they are as similar as black and white when referring to what they have in common, along with how they’re raised. Throughout the story, it shows the tension between the family and how Dee finds the way to be the center of attention. Also, how Dee’s overconfidence runs her relationship with her younger sister Maggie leading into the shame her family feels while around her. Finally, the different reasons the two sisters know about their heritage. The tension between the Narrator, portrayed by their mom, along with Dee and Maggie is noticeable throughout the story. “Maggie attempts to make a dash for the house, in her shuffling way, but I stay her with my hand.” (3) Maggie is constantly trying not to be seen with Dee, due to the fact that it only makes her feel worse about her looks and scars.
The mom on the hand is ashamed mostly because of her weight; “I am the way my daughter would want me to be: a hundred pounds lighter, my skin like an uncooked barley pancake. My hair glistens in the hot bright lights.” (1) In all reality, she is a larger woman who provides for her family by having to do both the man and women’s job by killing and cooking the food. She felt ashamed that she could do all those things due to
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She shows her knowledge when Dee blanks while trying to boast her knowledge on how much she knew about her family. “His name was Henry, but they called him Stash.” (5) Maggie knew every little detail about her family in conjunction with how their contributions kept the family a float. even though she wasn’t a part of the movement. Dee on the other hand struggles to look as if she knew her own heritage. She once again embarrassed by her mistake tries to change the subject by making rude comments and belittling her longer