Theme Of Everyday Use By Alice Walker

Everyday Use: Exploring Themes of Heritage, Identity, and the Power of Storytelling

Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," a deceptively simple short story, resonates deeply with readers due to its exploration of complex themes woven into the fabric of a seemingly ordinary family interaction. Published in 1973, the story transcends its time, continuing to provoke discussion about heritage, identity, cultural appropriation, and the enduring power of storytelling. This analysis delves into these central themes, exploring how Walker masterfully uses characterization, symbolism, and narrative structure to illuminate the intricate relationships between the characters and the profound impact of their contrasting views on their shared past.

The Clash of Generations: Heritage and its Interpretation

The story’s central conflict revolves around the diverging interpretations of heritage between Mama, the pragmatic matriarch, and her two daughters, Maggie and Dee. Dee, now known as Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, embodies a romanticized view of her heritage, embracing African-American culture as a fashionable aesthetic rather than a lived experience. She seeks to reclaim her past through superficial means, viewing the family heirlooms – the quilts and butter churn – as artifacts to be displayed, not used. Her approach highlights the danger of cultural appropriation, where elements of a culture are adopted without understanding or respecting their historical context and significance. This is epitomized by her desire to hang the quilts, meticulously crafted by Mama and Grandma Dee, rather than use them as intended. This action symbolizes her disconnect from the practical, everyday aspects of her heritage.

Maggie's Silent Heritage: The Weight of Lived Experience

In stark contrast to Dee’s flamboyant adoption of her heritage, Maggie represents the silent, enduring legacy of African-American tradition. Her quiet acceptance of her life and the family’s humble circumstances reflects a deeper understanding and respect for the past. Maggie's burns, a physical manifestation of her past trauma, become a poignant symbol of her resilience and acceptance of a difficult life lived within the confines of the family’s limited means. She doesn't need to rename herself or display her heritage; it is ingrained within her very being. Her understanding of the quilts' true value – as functional and deeply personal objects passed down through generations – showcases her genuine connection to the family history. This connection contrasts sharply with Dee’s detached, almost academic, fascination with her ancestry.

The Power of Storytelling and the Creation of Identity

Walker masterfully uses storytelling as a key element in establishing the characters' identities and their contrasting understandings of their heritage. Mama’s narrative voice, both observant and reflective, provides the story’s framework. Through her perspective, we witness the clash of generations and the complexities of familial relationships. Her narration subtly reveals her own struggles to reconcile her daughters’ conflicting views of their heritage while preserving her own practical understanding of their shared past. The story's power lies in its ability to show, not tell. We observe the conflict unfold through the characters' actions, dialogue, and the symbolic objects at the story's center.

The Quilts: Symbols of Continuity and Disconnection

The quilts are not simply decorative items; they are powerful symbols representing the family history, heritage, and the legacy of generations of women. They symbolize the continuity of family tradition, hard work, and the enduring connection between past and present. Each stitch represents a piece of the family's story, a silent testament to the women who came before. Dee's desire to "preserve" them as static artifacts demonstrates a lack of understanding of their true purpose and value. For Maggie, the quilts represent warmth, comfort, and the ongoing story of her family. Her understanding of their use demonstrates a deep respect for the labor and love that went into their creation and preservation. The quilts thus serve as a potent symbol to highlight the fundamental difference in the characters' understanding of heritage.

Reclaiming Identity: The Meaning of “Everyday Use”

The title itself, "Everyday Use," is a powerful statement. It underscores the importance of the ordinary, the mundane aspects of life, and their intrinsic value. It contrasts sharply with Dee's romanticized, superficial view of her heritage. Dee's desire to display the quilts as art objects rather than use them in everyday life reflects her disconnect from the practical realities of her heritage and her attempt to impose an idealized vision of her ancestry. The title challenges the reader to reconsider what constitutes "use" and its relationship to identity and heritage. What is the true value of inherited objects? Is it their aesthetic appeal or their practical function and their contribution to the ongoing story of a family?

The Significance of Names and Identity

Dee's renaming of herself, Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, is a significant aspect of her attempt to reclaim her heritage. However, her act is largely symbolic, a superficial gesture of embracing her African roots. It lacks the depth and authenticity found in Maggie’s quiet acceptance of her family history. Mama's choice to use the traditional family names for her daughters highlights her pragmatic approach and acceptance of her identity. The contrast between Dee’s deliberate renaming and Mama's steadfast use of their family names underscores the differences in their approaches to heritage. Mama's action demonstrates a strength that comes from embracing one's past rather than seeking to erase or reinvent it.

The Landscape and its Reflection of Identity

The rural setting of the story also contributes to its thematic depth. The simple, unadorned landscape mirrors Mama's practical and unpretentious approach to life. The contrasting backdrop of Dee’s urban sophistication serves to further emphasize the dichotomy between the characters’ views of their heritage. The rural setting itself reflects the roots of the family, symbolizing the grounded and enduring connection to the past that Maggie embodies. The setting acts as a silent witness to the family drama, emphasizing the weight of tradition and the tension between the old and the new.

Motherhood and the Transmission of Heritage

Mama's role in the story is crucial in understanding the complexities of heritage and identity. She is the link between generations, the keeper of the family's history and tradition. Her decision to give the quilts to Maggie reflects her deep understanding of the true meaning of heritage – not as a static display but as a living, breathing legacy passed down through generations. Her actions represent a conscious choice to transmit the legacy of her family's history and values. It's a decision born of love, understanding, and a respect for the enduring power of family tradition.

Conclusion: The Enduring Relevance of "Everyday Use"

Alice Walker’s "Everyday Use" remains a powerful and relevant story. Its exploration of heritage, identity, and the complexities of family relationships continues to resonate with readers across generations. The story's enduring appeal lies in its nuanced portrayal of human experience and its exploration of the ongoing struggle to understand and reconcile the past with the present. Through the contrasting characters of Dee and Maggie, Walker brilliantly illuminates the differing interpretations of heritage and the importance of understanding the true value of tradition. The story is a potent reminder of the importance of respecting the roots from which we grow, and the significance of actively preserving and passing on our cultural legacies. The seemingly simple act of handing down quilts becomes a profound symbolic gesture laden with implications about cultural heritage, family relationships, and the meaning of "everyday use."