“Everyday Use” Lecture Notes
SUMMARY
“Everyday Use” is a short story that explores the dynamics of heritage, identity, and family through the lens of an African American mother and her two daughters. The story is narrated by “Mama,” a strong, practical woman who lives in the rural South with her younger daughter, Maggie, who is shy and physically scarred from a house fire.
The plot centers around the visit of Dee, Mama’s educated and assertive older daughter, who has adopted a new African name and identity—Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Dee arrives with her partner, Hakim-a-barber, and expresses great interest in the family’s handmade heirlooms, particularly the quilts sewn by generations of women in the family. When Dee insists on taking the quilts as cultural artifacts, Mama ultimately decides to give them to Maggie instead, recognizing that Maggie understands and honors their true meaning through lived experience.
ANALYSIS
1. Themes
• Heritage and Identity: Walker examines how heritage can be appreciated in vastly different ways. Dee sees heritage as something to display, while Mama and Maggie view it as part of
daily life and family continuity.
• Education vs. Experience: Dee’s formal education leads her to a more superficial appreciation of culture, whereas Mama and Maggie’s knowledge is rooted in life experience and tradition.
• Generational and Cultural Conflict: The story highlights tensions between modern, urban African American identity and rural, working-class traditions, reflecting broader societal changes in the 1960s and 1970s.
2. Symbolism
• The Quilts: Representing the legacy of African American women, the quilts are a symbol of family history, hard work, and generational connection. Their use in “everyday life” becomes a metaphor for living heritage.
• Dee’s Name Change: Dee’s rejection of her given name reflects a desire to reclaim African roots but also suggests a disconnect from her immediate ancestry. Mama’s observation that the name “Dee” has been passed down for generations challenges the idea that it lacks cultural significance.
• Burn Scars on Maggie: Maggie’s scars symbolize the physical and emotional toll of her family’s hardships, but also her resilience. Her scars contrast with Dee’s polished image, underscoring the story’s message about authentic versus performative identity.
3. Narrative Style
• The story is told from Mama’s first-person point of view, offering a grounded, honest, and occasionally humorous perspective. Her voice is unpretentious and intimate, giving readers direct access to her values and emotions, particularly her internal conflict and ultimate realization about her daughters.
4. Social Commentary
• Walker critiques the commodification of Black culture and the tendency to romanticize or appropriate heritage without engaging with its lived reality. The story reflects ongoing debates about authenticity, representation, and the meaning of cultural pride.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
• How do Mama’s and Dee’s views on heritage differ? Whose perspective does the story seem to support?
• What is the significance of the quilts, and why does Mama choose to give them to Maggie?
• How does Walker portray the relationships between mothers and daughters in this story?
• In what ways does Walker use symbolism to comment on broader issues of race, class, and identity?