Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds. There are three specific stories that focus on mothers and daughters that I will use for this paper. She told things the way that she saw them, and the way that she says them was her reality.
In the winter I wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. I can clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. My fat keeps me hot in zero weather…[and she continues for a few more sentences].
Though Maggie is quite unattractive and frightened, she is a likeable girl who has learnt a lot from her grandparents and keeps the family traditions. She is extremely shy and quite passive but her simple way of life and attitude makes her similar to her mother. Unlike her elder sister, Maggie accepts her life as it is.
She does not care about possessions, money or proper education. The need of her heart and common sense guide her. Ambitious and good-looking Dee also tries to keep to her ethnic background; she has even changed her name for Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to get in touch with the heritage of African people.
The irony is that her previous name was much more authentic as her aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and other women in her family had it. A new name is African, but it is not related to her family or heritage as it is. It means nothing to any of her relatives and thus, it is strange and non-indigenous. Even her male friend took a Muslim name and withdrew from the traditional culture of his people.
They have got knowledge which is foreign and odd to their families; thus, it creates tension. Dee has rejected her actual heritage and made up a new fake one which she considers to be genuine. She does not appreciate what her family has done for the sake of her education and success. She is more concerned with her own affairs than the sufferings of her closest people. She does not realize that only owing to the money raised by her mother and the church she could go to school and college.
In return, she is so ashamed for the appearance and ignorance of her mother as well as the misery of the house that she never brings her friends home. She used to despise the quilts made from the old clothes of her ancestors until she understood how expensive and precious they are as pieces of artwork.
Dee is sure she is in control of life. She has a good grip on the situation and can get whatever she wants, including nice clothes, jewelry or any other things. That is the reason of her disappointment and anger when she does not get the quilts she wants to hang in her room instead of using them. Johnson the narrator and her sister Maggie. It can be observed in her behavior, speech, and even clothes. Throughout the story, the author contrasts Dee and her family paying extra attention to the way they interpret their culture.
We can see the she is trying to sound very unusual but such a form of salutation makes her slightly ridiculous because it is alien to her mother and sister. The absurdity of her behavior becomes noticeable even in the way she dresses. The person, wearing a very long dress on a hot day cannot be characterized as very sensible and Ms. Johnson points it out immediately Furthermore, this woman seldom comes to see her relatives and even now her visit has a very specific purpose, to take some antiques from her mothers house.
Dee does not even ask neither Mama not Maggie anything about their life though she has not seen them for a long time. As the story progresses Alice Walker gives the reader additional clues about Dees personality. At last Dee and her partner, Hakim-a-Barber , arrive at the house.
Dee is dressed in a beautiful, colorful, floor-length dress in African style. Mama reminds Dee that she is, in fact, named after her aunt Dicie, but agrees to call Dee by her chosen name. Dee takes pictures of her family with their house. Mama acquiesces, and gives Dee the churn. Mama, however, had planned on giving the quilts to Maggie. When Mama refuses, saying that she promised them to Maggie, Dee becomes angry.
Everyday Use. Plot Summary.
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