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The Symbolism Of The Quilt In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

479 Words2 Pages

Importantly, the quilts which Mama promised Maggie on her marriage were highly symbolic, representing the Mama's heritage of the past. The quilt was very significant thing in a way that it represented history; it included clothes that Dee's great grandma was wearing and pieces of grandpa uniforms that he used to wear during the civil war times. The guilt also signifies the experiences of Negro American civil war; as Walker indicated the importance of civil war legacies in her story. The quilt also complements to the idea of creative activities, which women created during generational lineages.
The story also describes Yard as a symbol of culture; which is produced by people. The yard is a wonderful seepage, where Mama’s repentances can be bypassed. For Mama and Maggie, the yard reminds safety, and a feeling of the strengths that they have to somehow control environment. …show more content…

When Dee put up with towards the end of the story, that Mama and Maggie are unable to understand their heritage, was basically wrong because Dee herself was not able to understand the real essence of heritage. When Maggie uses the guilt, she also appreciates her heritage, as it reminds her to ancestral lineage. Dee ponders that linking with a person's roots or heritage is a new thing. Dee was very much concerned about the future ownership of guilt; she also link the meaning of her name to that of guilt. Dee thinks that her name itself is a symbol of the oppressed; this is why she wants to change her name, so that she no longer is tied to her family. (Julie Moore,

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