Character Analysis: “Everyday Use” Essay

The mother in this story has lived a hard, long life, doing the farm out of a man, never complaining, just doing the topics to survive. Then we open her daughter, Dee, who I submit as never having broken a sweat in her life. As a child she hated her house, her living, her agriculture. When the fire had burnt down the honest-to-goodness house, she just sat there in amazement to a lower place an gray- vibrissaed gum tree, as if she wanted to dance in the ashes. She did all this enchantment her mother was carrying Maggie, with arms burnt so bad they were sticking to her, and whose hair was singed and smoking with the foul stench of burning flesh. Why then, if her heritage bureau so much to her, didnt she lift a finger to and any of the house or items in it? Instead she sat under a tree admiring the disaster that was taking place.Like the house, her family was of little immensity to her. She was ashamed of their lack of knowledge and seemed very much bothered by the poverty i n which she lived. In her mind, to be measur commensurate was to be worldly. To ready riches and style were what mattered, non her family.Its ironic how when she was younger she could not wait to get out of her lifestyle, but now she claims her culture is important to her. She even goes through the extent of changing her diagnose since in her mind, Dee was the name given to her by her oppressors when in reality it was the name passed down by her own family. Dee changes her name to Wangero Lewaninka Kemanjo, which supposedly goes back to her Afri stern roots. The mother passively accepts the change with no argument. She doesnt even say a vocalise when Dee takes the churn top off the butter churner that has milk in it that has already clabbered, and claims it as her own. Dee doesnt even stop to think that its up to now in use, just that she wants it and thats that.The mothers slowly being nudged and pushed like the alarm she doesnt mind Then Dee demands that she be able to tak e the two quilts that were made by her grandma. When the mother claims that the quilts were promised to her sister Maggie, Dee gets furious, stating that Maggie cant appreciate them. Shell ruin them by using them everyday.Dee is trying to accomplish a culture that she believes comes from objects like the churner and the quilts. But her idea of culture is something to be hung on a wall, put on display. She has no idea that culture comes from knowing and living the culture. To them it is a way of life to Dee, it is the in thing to do. I feel that the mother finally sees this in Dee and doesnt lever it. So for the first time in the mothers life, the cow was milked the wrong way and had begun to kick. She snatches the quilts out of Dees hands and throws them into the arms of Maggie. furiously stomping out of the house, Dee shouts, You dont understand What? exclaims her mother. Your heritage, Dee responds.The final words Dee says are, Its really a new day for us. But from the way you a nd ma still act, youd never know it. How is it that she doesnt even discharge a simple statement? She never has and she never will have this culture. Culture is not all art, its not something you turn on and off its life.