Everyday Use Literary Analysis

In the short story, "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker the narrator and her daughters battle with the internal conflict of their culture. A symbol in literature is described as an object which has a meaning other than its literal meaning. The quilts described in the story symbolized the history of the family.

The quilts were handmade by the narrator, her sister, and her mother. The material used for the quilts were items of clothing worn by generations of family members. "In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty or more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell's Paisley shirts. One teeny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra's uniform that he wore in the Civil War." ( 350). The narrator and her children feel the quilts symbolize generations of war and poverty that their family endured over the years.

On the other hand, not all family members share the same appreciation for the quilts. Adopting a different culture after going to college the oldest daughter, Dee, appreciates the quilt for being part of her legacy. She can't believe that the quilt was handmade. "These are all pieces of dresses Grandma used to wear. She did all the stitching by

"Maggie can't appreciate these quilts!" she said. "She'd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use." ( 351). Dee feels her younger sister's intention of the use of the quilts is not as important as hers. "What would you do with them?" "Hang them," she said. (351). The narrator doesn't feel her oldest daughter's artistry purposes entitled her to the quilts. "I did something I had done never done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wagero's hands and dumped them in Maggie's lap."