Using Everyday use by Alicia Walker, respond to the following questions.
1. Explain the symbolism in the story.
2. How does the symbolism tie to the theme?
3. What is the greater message or lesson?
Use textual support
**ANSWER**
**Symbolism in Everyday Use**
The most prominent symbol in “Everyday Use” is the quilt. The quilts are made from scraps of fabric from different generations of Maggie and Dee’s family. They represent the family’s history and tradition. Dee wants to take the quilts to hang on the wall as art, but Maggie wants to use them for their everyday purpose. This symbolizes the conflict between Dee’s desire to preserve the family’s heritage and Maggie’s desire to use it in a practical way.
Other symbols in the story include:
* **The house:** The house is a symbol of the family’s roots and their connection to the land. It is also a symbol of the family’s poverty and struggle.
* **The yard:** The yard is a symbol of the family’s freedom and their connection to nature. It is also a symbol of the family’s struggle to survive.
* **The dasher:** The dasher is a symbol of Dee’s new identity and her desire to break away from her family’s past.
**How the symbolism ties to the theme**
The symbolism in “Everyday Use” ties to the theme of identity. The story is about the conflict between two sisters who have different views of their identity and their family’s heritage. Dee wants to define her identity on her own terms, while Maggie is more comfortable with her traditional identity. The symbols in the story represent the different choices that Dee and Maggie have made about their identities.
**Greater message or lesson**
The greater message of “Everyday Use” is that there is no right or wrong way to define your identity. It is important to be proud of your heritage, but it is also important to be your own person. You can choose to embrace or reject your family’s traditions, but it is important to be honest with yourself about who you are.
**Textual support**
The following passages from the story support the analysis of the symbolism:
* **Symbolism of the quilt:**
> “She had always wanted to have ‘some of Mama’s quilts’… Dee had already decided she would take the quilts with her. She had no doubt that Maggie would be delighted to have them.”
> “Maggie put the quilt around her shoulders. It was her favorite, and she had always slept with it.”
* **Symbolism of the house:**
> “The old house was drafty and cold, but it was home.”
> “The house was built of logs cut from the woods behind it, and it was surrounded by a yard full of pecan trees.”
* **Symbolism of the yard:**
> “Maggie loved the yard. She loved the smell of the pine needles and the feel of the soft dirt under her feet.”
> “Maggie sat on the porch and looked out at the yard. She could see the chickens pecking at the ground and the ducks swimming in the pond. She felt at peace.”
* **Symbolism of the dasher:**
> “Dee came out with a dasher. She held it up for us to admire. It was beautiful light yellow wood, from a tree that grew in the yard where Big Dee and Stash had lived.”
> “Dee put the dasher on the table. I don’t think I’ll be using that,” she said. “I can buy new things at the store.”
**Conclusion**
The symbolism in “Everyday Use” is complex and meaningful. It helps to convey the story’s theme of identity and the greater message that there is no right or wrong way to define who you are.
Leave a Reply