Question

In "Everyday Use," the interaction between Dee and Maggie help the story's theme about heritage. Describe how the sisters interact and explain how their interactions help develop the story's theme. Be sure to use specific details from the story to support your ideas.

Answer 1

Alice Walker's conceal the meaning of heritage from two paradoxical point. From one aspect we can observe heritage in Dee's character as a complete rejection of suffering. This suffering is the suffering of African-Americans which became an inseparable part of their history. The history which completed their heritage. Similarly, the suffering of Maggie is typical for the case. The conflict between two sisters over the quilt and Maggie's feat to use the quilt related to cultural preservation demonstrates what does a real heritage mean. It is not something artificial that can be created, it is something that have to be valued.

Answer 2

In Everyday Use by Alice Walker, Dee (now Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo as a protest against her white name) comes back home with her strange boyfriend from university. Mama and Maggie are weirded-out by her new appearance and demeanor, but try to get along with her. Then, Wangero demands to take the family's back home with her as she believes it would be such a piece to showcase her heritage, while Mama opposes explaining that it is her hope that Maggie will set the quilts for everyday use. Wangero, frustrated, leaves saying how such a priceless artifact will go to waste.

Apart from the exchange of hands regarding the quilt between Dee and Maggie, they don't interact much. In fact, when Dee greets Maggie, she receives her with some rejection as she is aware of her scars and jealous of Dee's modern life.

This story shows a contrast between to very different senses of heritage. While Dee has a much more modern understanding of the value of her African-Americanism, Maggie shows a more traditional appreciation for her roots. Dee's feelings for her heritage come from her pride and rebellion while Maggie's sense of heritage comes from tradition and family values. This struggle around the quilt between the sisters exemplifies how society treats heritage, constantly struggling between its traditional value and its museum-curiosity-artifact aspect.