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Symbolism In 'Everyday Use'

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The story “Everyday Use” has some symbolic meaning incorporated into it. A symbol, according to Kirszner and Mandell (2012), is when something in the story takes on a particular meaning. The three key symbols that were present were Dee’s name; the dasher; and the quilts.
Wangero was symbolic to Dee because it represented freedom. She felt that her original name, Dee, came from people that oppress her (Kirszner & Mandell, 2012). Her mother felt the name Dee was special because it represented her family heritage that was passed down through generations.
The dasher was symbolic to both but in a different way. Dee felt it symbolizes artistry. Dee’s mom thought it expresses beauty in the way the fingerprints embedded in the wood from being used
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