Everyday use story. "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker: [Essay Example], 549 words GradesFixer 2022-10-29

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As someone who has always been interested in language and communication, I have always considered English to be an important part of my personal and professional development. Over the years, I have dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to learning and improving my English skills, and I believe that this effort has paid off in many ways.

One of the most significant ways in which my English skills have benefited me is in terms of my ability to communicate effectively with others. Whether it is through written communication, such as emails or reports, or through spoken communication, such as presentations or meetings, having strong English skills has allowed me to clearly convey my thoughts and ideas to others. This has not only made me a more effective communicator, but it has also helped me to build stronger relationships with my colleagues and clients.

In addition to helping me communicate effectively, my English skills have also played a key role in my professional development. Many jobs today require a high level of English proficiency, and having strong English skills has helped me to stand out in the job market and to secure more advanced positions within my field. Additionally, my English skills have allowed me to access a wider range of resources and information, as much of the research and literature in my field is published in English.

Another important aspect of my English skills is the cultural understanding and awareness that they have given me. As someone who has studied and lived in a number of different countries, I have had the opportunity to interact with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Having strong English skills has allowed me to understand and appreciate these different cultural perspectives, and to communicate more effectively with people from different cultures.

Overall, my journey with English has been a fulfilling and enriching one. While there is always room for improvement, I am confident that the time and effort I have dedicated to learning and improving my English skills has been well worth it. I believe that strong English skills are essential for anyone looking to succeed in today's globalized world, and I am grateful for the many ways in which they have benefited me personally and professionally.

In the story "Everyday Use," Alice Walker tells the tale of a mother and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie. The mother is a poor, hardworking woman who has lived a difficult life on a small farm in rural Georgia. Dee, the older daughter, is educated and ambitious, and she has always looked down on her mother and sister for their lack of sophistication and culture. Maggie, the younger daughter, is shy and unassuming, and she idolizes her sister Dee.

The story begins with the mother waiting for Dee to visit, as she has not seen her in many years. When Dee arrives, she is accompanied by a man named Hakim-a-barber, who is a member of the Black Panther Party. Dee is now going by the name Wangero and has embraced the tenets of Black pride and African heritage.

Upon seeing her mother and sister, Dee is disappointed by their appearance and the simplicity of their lifestyle. She criticizes their "everyday" clothing and objects, saying that they should be used for display in a museum rather than for practical use. Dee is particularly interested in two quilts that have been passed down through the family for generations.

The mother is proud of these quilts and wants to give them to Maggie, who has always appreciated them and will use them everyday. However, Dee insists on taking the quilts for herself, claiming that they are a part of her African heritage and that she will display them in her home as a symbol of her cultural identity.

The mother is torn between her love for her daughter and her desire to preserve the family's cultural traditions. Ultimately, she decides to give the quilts to Maggie, recognizing that it is important for her to have a tangible connection to her family's history and that she will use and appreciate the quilts in a way that Dee never could.

In the end, Dee leaves in a huff, taking only a few small items with her. The mother and Maggie are left to continue their simple, everyday lives, but they are content knowing that they have a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage and the value of the objects that they use in their daily lives.

Through the story of "Everyday Use," Alice Walker explores themes of cultural identity, family relationships, and the importance of heritage. She also critiques the idea of cultural appropriation, as Dee's desire to claim the quilts as a symbol of her African heritage ignores the fact that they are a part of her family's history and traditions. The story serves as a reminder that cultural objects are not just objects, but are imbued with meaning and significance that should be respected and preserved.

"Everyday Use" Story by Alice Walker

everyday use story

She was elated for the fact that her mother had finally owned her. . Eventually, he tells Mama to call him "Hakim-a-barber" due to Mama being unable to pronounce his real name. Mama suggests she take some of the other, newer quilts, but Dee refuses, saying she does not want quilts stitched by machine. Her eyes seemed stretched open, blazed open by the flames reflected in them. So far, so good.

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Everyday Use Summary & Analysis

everyday use story

She is timid, homely, and not especially bright, but she maintains a sincere connection to her family heritage. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open. She wrote me once that no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us. She also suggests to have these articles at her place as decorative pieces. During the fire, she stared at the engulfing flames with concentration, whereas Maggie regarded the scene with understandable horror. Dee is named after her black female ancestors, but, presumably, her Western name came at some point from European roots. I hear Maggie go "Uhnnnh" again.

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"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker: [Essay Example], 549 words GradesFixer

everyday use story

Retrieved October 24, 2011. Her hair stands up straight on top and is bordered by two long pigtails that hang down in back. In this instance, eye contact again is a power Dee possesses and Mama does not. As Dee wraps up the dasher to take away, Mama touches it and looks it over. Mama recounts the traumatizing fire, which burnt down their home, and forced them to build a new one, exactly like it, where they now live. As soon as mama called out her name, Dee immediately responded, by telling her that her name is now Wangero.

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Everyday Use

everyday use story

. Dee is judgmental about the way of life her mother and sister have taken up. Maggie, unlike Dee, lacks self-confidence and has both the look and manner of someone who feels defeated by her circumstances. Dee asks her mother for the quilts. My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. Dee says that the priceless quilts will be destroyed.

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Everyday Use Characters

everyday use story

Mama and Maggie share similar views of respect towards their cultural, whereas Dee has a different perspective towards preserving culture and tradition. Mama recalls how Maggie had always thought Dee had been gifted with an easy life in which her hopes and desires were rarely, if ever, frustrated. As a narrator, she speaks in a voice that is wise, authoritative, and warm. Severely burned in a house fire when she was a child, her scarred, ugly appearance hides her sympathetic, generous nature. It is confusing and embittering that a memory which is so painful for Mama and Maggie could have been a source of liberation and joy for Dee.

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Everyday Use Historical Context: Black Americans Exploring Their Cultural Heritage Summary & Analysis

everyday use story

She also photographed her mother, sister, and their house, not to carry the memories back, but to have the photographs as testimony of the life that they were still living despite the change. I took it for a moment in my hands. Mama thinks that one of the main points of contention between her and Dee is that Mama is unable to fit the image of femininity that Dee has in mind for her—thin and lighter-skinned with straight hair. Dee continues to invasively look for objects to take home rather than catching up with her long-estranged family. Maggie by now was standing in the door. Dee was educated and was able enough to trace her roots and exercise her newly obtained civil rights.

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Everyday Use: Character List

everyday use story

Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort. In real life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. The only time Maggie reveals the extent of her innermost desires is when Dee attempts to take the quilts that Mama had promised to Maggie. We sat down to eat and right away he said he didn't eat collards and pork was unclean. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1994 : 402.

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Everyday Use: Maggie

everyday use story

Mama notes that Maggie is neither good-looking nor particularly bright. She sets up the idea that education is part of how Dee became such an outspoken opponent to the racism she experiences. She participated actively in both, organizing and protesting alongside activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. But Mama hopes that Maggie does, indeed, designate the quilts for everyday use. Then we are on the stage and Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes. In this regard, she is as resourceful as Mama Johnson, but her resourcefulness is dedicated solely to the elevation of self. In the process, Dee developed a new philosophy of life, owing to the education she received.

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Everyday Use: Full Plot Summary

everyday use story

In fact, she is famous for coining the term womanist, which she had adopted as part of her identity. As she emerges with the quilts, Mama immediately recognizes not just the quilts themselves, but also the way they were made and with which patterns, and where exactly the fabric came from. You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more. Meanwhile, we hear some strange noise in the kitchen, and the slamming of the door. Dee, Mama imagines, would never be proud of her as she is.


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