Everyday Use Symbolism

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04 September 20XX Character Analysis: Everyday Use

“Everyday Use” is a story written by Alice Walker in 1973 and was initially published under her Love and Trouble collection of short stories. “Everyday Use” takes place in the late 1960s to early 1970s when African Americans struggled for equal rights and treatment. This story features Dee, also known as Wangero, visiting her mother and younger sister, Maggie. While Dee plays a major role in this story, Maggie holds a significant part of the story through her personality, her relationship with her sister, and her symbolism.

Everyday Use starts with a short background summary about Ma, Dee, and Maggie as Alice Walker describes the family's early

In Everyday Use, Maggie is often used to contrast with her sister. Dee is often portrayed as more of a beautiful and smart person while Maggie is depicted as ugly and shy. Maggie looks up to her sister and even tries to win her acceptance by allowing her to have the old quilts. There is also jealousy in this relationship as Maggie feels as if Deed has been gifted in life with her beauty, intelligence, and confidence. However, despite Dee’s more favorable outward appearance she has a harsh personality and cares very little for her family. Dee is often very selfish and only cares for her needs, and in contrast, Maggie is a very kind-hearted person who deeply cares about the people around her despite her shy

In the story, Maggie symbolizes purity as, unlike her sister, is unselfish and kind-hearted. As previously stated, the symbolism of Maggie and her selflessness contrast with the symbolism of Dee. Maggie also has symbolism for her extensive knowledge of her family in heritage. During Dee’s visit, Dee questions which family member crafted a piece of furniture and Maggie replies with the history of the item as well as who made it. Maggie’s knowledge of her family's history symbolizes the respect she has for her heritage while her sister, Dee, runs from her family and uses antique furniture to impress others. Maggie’s quilts can also symbolize the respect she has for culture. According to Alice Walker, the quits were sewn by Dee and Maggie's grandmother, and while Dee only wants the quilts to show them off, Ma chose to give them to Maggie because she knows she will respect and use them. There is also symbolism in their old home including the fire that burned it down and Maggie in the process. The house fire symbolizes the family being separated or destroyed, as evidenced by how Dee treats her family and why Maggie often seeks her sister's approval. Despite this, while fire symbolizes destruction, it also symbolizes purification, which Alice Walker uses to show Maggie's kind-hearted and caring nature as she is uncorrupted by selfishness. By this, Maggie's pride and her thoughtful actions