This essay deals with the short story “Everyday Use“ by Alice Walker, which was first published in 1973 as a part of the short story collection "In Love and Trouble". The short story contains many symbols, one of them a handmade quilt, which the two sisters Maggie and Dee (or “Wangero”, as she calls herself) both want to have, but for different reasons.

In this essay I am going to show that the handmade quilt as a family heritage both symbolises the appreciation of the history of the family and the history of the African-American people. I will also argue that the two sisters, who both want to have the quilt, represent different ideas of how to appreciate the family’s heritage and their origin: While Maggie sees the quilt as an everyday object and wants to maintain the traditions, Dee wants to keep it as a piece of art to depict it as an artefact of a past life, which is no longer reality for her and the African-American people.

Excerpt

The Quilt in the Short Story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker as a Symbol for the Appreciation of the Heritage of African-American People

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay analyzes Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," focusing on the symbolic representation of a handmade quilt as a family and African-American heritage. The essay explores the contrasting perspectives of the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, on the value and significance of this heritage.

The symbolic representation of the handmade quilt.
Contrasting perspectives of Maggie and Dee on family heritage.
The role of quilting in African-American history and women's lives.
The complexities of appreciating and preserving cultural heritage in a changing society.
The significance of the quilt as a symbol of both personal and communal identity.

Chapter Summaries

The Quilt in the Short Story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker as a Symbol for the Appreciation of the Heritage of African-American People: This essay examines Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," focusing on the symbolic significance of the handmade quilt. The quilt, a tangible representation of the family's and African-American history, becomes a focal point for contrasting views on heritage appreciation between the sisters, Maggie and Dee. Dee, educated and embracing Black Pride, sees the quilt as a valuable artifact, a piece of art representing a past she seeks to claim, while Maggie, grounded in tradition, values the quilt for its everyday use and its connection to the family's continuous legacy. The essay delves into the historical context of quilting within the African-American community, highlighting its significance as a creative outlet and a symbol of female empowerment. The contrasting interpretations of the quilt reveal deeper tensions about the preservation and understanding of heritage, examining whether valuing heritage lies in preservation for future generations or in the aesthetic appreciation of the past. The analysis explores how both approaches reflect valid yet potentially conflicting paths towards cultural preservation. The essay utilizes critical analyses from various scholars to enhance its arguments, deepening our understanding of the symbolic power of the quilt and the complex relationship between cultural identity and generational differences.

Keywords

Alice Walker, Everyday Use, quilt, African-American heritage, family history, cultural preservation, Black Pride, tradition, symbolism, generational differences, Maggie, Dee, quilting, community.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" - A Literary Analysis

What is the main focus of this literary analysis?

This essay analyzes Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," focusing primarily on the symbolic representation of a handmade quilt as a representation of family and African-American heritage. It explores the contrasting perspectives of the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, on the value and significance of this heritage.

What are the key themes explored in the analysis?

The analysis delves into several key themes: the symbolic representation of the handmade quilt; the contrasting perspectives of Maggie and Dee on family heritage; the role of quilting in African-American history and women's lives; the complexities of appreciating and preserving cultural heritage in a changing society; and the significance of the quilt as a symbol of both personal and communal identity.

How does the quilt function symbolically within the story?

The handmade quilt serves as a tangible representation of the family's and African-American history. It becomes a focal point highlighting the contrasting views on heritage appreciation between Maggie and Dee. Dee, views the quilt as a valuable artifact and a piece of art, while Maggie values it for its everyday use and its connection to the family's continuous legacy.

What are the contrasting perspectives of Maggie and Dee regarding the quilt and heritage?

Maggie, grounded in tradition, values the quilt for its practical use and its connection to the family's history. Dee, educated and embracing Black Pride, sees the quilt as a valuable artifact, a piece of art representing a past she seeks to claim, representing a more distanced and aesthetic appreciation.

What is the significance of quilting in the African-American context?

The essay highlights the historical context of quilting within the African-American community, emphasizing its importance as a creative outlet and a symbol of female empowerment.

What is the central question addressed by the analysis regarding cultural preservation?

The analysis explores the tension between preserving heritage for future generations (Maggie's perspective) and appreciating heritage for its aesthetic value (Dee's perspective), examining whether either approach is superior in the context of cultural preservation.

What kind of scholarly approach does the analysis utilize?

The analysis utilizes critical analyses from various scholars to support its arguments and deepen the understanding of the symbolic power of the quilt and the complex relationship between cultural identity and generational differences.

What are the key words associated with this analysis?