Final answer:
Dee changes her name to connect with her African roots and express her identity, causing conflict with her family who favors a more immediate and practical approach to heritage as symbolized by their differing views on the quilt's significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," the character Dee changes her name to assert her identity and heritage from her perspective. She believes that by doing so, she is rejecting the oppression associated with the name given to her by her ancestors' oppressors. This change signifies Dee's desire to reconnect with her African roots and distance herself from the history of subjugation that her given name represents. However, this action causes tension between Dee and her family, who feel she is rejecting her immediate heritage and their way of life.
Dee's sister, Magee, and their mother hold distinct views about the quilt that causes further conflict. The quilt is a symbol of their family's history and represents the blending and continuity of the past with the present. Dee views it as a cultural artifact, while Magee sees it as a practical item imbued with personal and familial significance. Ultimately, their mother sides with Magee, recognizing the importance of honoring and maintaining family connections and traditions in their everyday use.