Everyday Use

Looking back, far back in time. I can see my grandma, great-grandma and grandpa. They are sitting around a fire slowly stitching by hand as my great-grandpa is sleeping soundly in an old rocking chair. I sit and watch as a large quilt is slowly sewn together. That quilt wasn't the greatest, but it was made with fine American ingenuity. A breeze rushes over my whole body and I am suddenly pulled away from the scene. Soft pounding slowly starts in my ear. It gets louder and louder. I'm rushed into a modern day factory, but the pounding was still there. I looked around, and sewing machines were everywhere. In the short story "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker the author illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to traditions of this family's culture. You can see the aspects of this story by the characters, symbolism, and the actual meaning of the story.

The characters in the story are Maggie, Dee, and their Mother. Dee is a lovely young lady that only wants to make it big in the world, so it wouldn't be a surprise that her name would mean "a rising river." Maggie on the other hand loves to be involved in her heritage and traditions of her family. She is one of a kind just like her name meaning "pearl." The mother in the story is very simple and has a unsophisticated view of her heritage. Early on in the story we learn that the mother has inherited many customs and traditions from her ancestors, like the quilts that she has kept.

Even though the characters in this story are very important, the symbolism is also a important part of the story. Throughout most of the story the family was out in the yard. "It is like an extended living room(pg. 102)." This shows that the yard was like a safe area for the family. Another part of the story that had symbolism was when there was a fire in the house. "Her eyes seemed stretched open, blazed open by the flames that reflected them(pg.104)." In this part of the book it tells how the yard became a sanctuary for the family.

Not only is the symbolism essential, but so is the meaning of the story. The women in the story care deeply for their heritage. Even though Maggie feels as though the rest of her family are neglecting it, they still all have a mutual respect towards their culture. This story shows the relationship towards people's heritage, and how we see it now in the present day. The author shows that the heritage is shown not by possession of the object, but by one's lifestyle.

Anyone can see the significance of this story by the characters, symbolism, and the meaning of the story. I thought this story showed how some people neglect their heritage. Though our world has become more dependant on the technology in the world we should still try not to forget the little things in life even if it is only a quilt.