In her short story “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker describes the ways in which one can appreciate their heritage and how one method is greater than the other. She supports this idea through the use of 2 differing daughters, each demonstrating each type of appreciation as a means to argue her point. Her purpose is to convey that those who appreciate through use over appreciating though a glance appreciate their heritage more than those who view their past as a monument or memory of the past. As the story goes on, readers start to understand the differences between Wangero (originally named Dee compared to her younger sister Maggie. Wangero is portrayed as the modern daughter, the sister who “wanted nice things” and “dressed loud,” viewing things …show more content…
Wangero, wanting them because it was something of value to her, tries to convince her mom to give her them even though they were supposed to be for Maggie. In the process of trying to persuade her mother, she uses various techniques to inorder to try and achieve her goal. One of these techniques includes establishing her goal towards her mother in a sweet tone: “‘Mama,’ Wangero said sweet as a bird. ‘Can I have these old quilts?’ (56)” The use of this method on her mom starts off in a positive light, making her more likely to say ‘yes’ over ‘no.’ First impressions are everything and could affect one’s decision especially in a yes or no circumstance. Another strategy Wangero uses to argue her point is downplaying her sister, reasoning that she, unlike her sister, would take care of them carefully. She says furiously that “Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags. Less than that! (68)” This anger signals Wangero’s care and attention towards honoring the quilts is so strong and demonstrates her serious intention to appreciate her culture through preservation without use. Although her strategy in assuming what her sister would do with them could be true, her anger and choice of reason are something that strikes back at