Everyday Use
by Alice Walker
Examine the function of the quilt as a symbol.
The quilt represents a number things including primarily, heritage. The quilt was first brought to light as a symbol by Dee, who most certainly regards the quilt as an object that represents her heritage. She finds sentimental value in the quilt and firmly believes that the only way to honor her heritage is through its preservation. Mama on the other hand, does not see the quilt as necessarily an object of heritage, but as simply a material object. Mama wishes to give the quilts not to Dee, but to Maggie as a wedding gift. Dee is upset at this because she feels that Maggie does not have the capacity to fully utilize the quilts as heirlooms, but instead will use them for 'everyday use'. Maggie insists that she does not mind if Dee takes the quilts, as she says in the story, “ She can have them, Mama; I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts (Walker,93).” The quilt also somewhat represents differentiation and values, as well as differentiation in values. Dee and her mother and Maggie all appreciate and value their heritage, but have different methods of doing so. Maggie and Dee both think in terms of different philosophies. Dee has chosen items as heirlooms to represent her heritage. She has chosen a fake name. She has chosen flamboyant clothing. Heritage has become materialistic to Dee. Dee is upset at her mother for not understanding the value of the quilts, but this is a misconception on Dee's behalf. It seems that as represented through her behavior, Dee is the one who does not truly understand the value of the quilts. She understands the value of the quilts as objects but she does not fully recognize the very intrinsic value she speaks of. This is apparent in Dee's comments to Maggie as she departs, “It's really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you'd never know it (Walker 93).” Dee was always very modern, very progressive, and ready for a new and different life. However, what Dee does not realize is that both Maggie and Mama's heritage show through their work and their demeanor. Everyday Use is the title because Maggie and Mama utilize their heritage everyday, unlike Dee. Tradition differs from heritage. Heritage is a trait, tradition is a practice. Maggie knows how to make her own quilts, and she has acquired this skill from the teachings of her grandmother. The skill Maggie has attained from her ancestors transcends the material value of the quilts. Mama finally realizes the gifts that Maggie has absentmindedly acquired that have bypassed her sister. With this realization, Mama also realizes that she has misappropriated her pride in her daughters by failing to previously see the stronger quality in Maggie's humility.
I think the quilt may also represent another ideal. It may not be coincidental that the object at hand is not any other object, not even any other type of blanket- but a quilt. A quilt is made up of different patterns, different colors, different textures, but all sewn into one. The quilt represents difference, but a oneness in that difference. I think that it would be fair to say that the story addresses a change in society, and the confusion and struggle of establishing a truly African-American culture. Early in the story Dee almost seems as though she is eager to separate herself from her home life, ready to establish herself in a new era, free of oppression. Dee appears to have everything but what she crucially lacks is her own identity. Dee was so eager to detach herself from her inherited lifestyle, that she had missed the entire point. As philosopher Jean Baudrillard said, “It is always the same: once you are liberated, you are forced to ask who you are.” The quilt, as well as Dee herself, represent a struggle in cultural identity with African-Americans, as well as many other ethnic groups.
Analyze the opening two paragraphs of the story to show how they set the tone and establish the tension of the story.
In the first paragraph of the story Mama speaks of only of the yard, which she describes in detail with much imagery. She uses many adjectives such as, clean, wavy, comfortable, hard, fine, tiny, and irregular. She also uses many natural terms; yard, clay, sand, tree, and breezes. The yard is simple, and yet Mama speaks with great pride in regards of it. There is a reflective tone to this opening paragraph as indicated to me by the first line, “I will wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy yesterday...(Walker, 87).” Also, the last line of the paragraph indicates the same, “...anyone can come and sit and look up into the elm tree and wait for the breezes that never come inside the house (Walker, 87).” The words, 'yesterday' and 'never' used in both the opening and closing line signify that Mama is to some extent, reminiscing. The tone changes in the second paragraph to create a more somber and dismal feel. The syntax of the paragraph is conducive to this, using such words as; hopelessly, homely, ashamed, envy, and awe.
The first two paragraphs establish a sense of tension in the story through their tone. At first we are introduced to a sense of simplicity, yet pride in that simplicity. Next we are introduced to the opposite, a sense of abashment in the character of Maggie. There is some foretelling of a character whose pride and decadence is the reason for these feelings of belittlement in Maggie. The pride of this character seems to contradict the humility of Maggie, and the seeming decadence of this character could potentially contradict the simplicity presented in the first paragraph. It seems that these two contradictions will manifest into the primarly element of conflict later on in the story.
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