Introduction
Alice Walker′s short story "Everyday Use", from the collection In Love and Trouble published in 1973, was written during the heyday of the Black Power movement, when African Americans were trying to reach more than mere racial equality and insisted on self-determination and racial dignity. The tracing of ancestral African roots, the slogan Black is Beautiful, and the Afro hair style arose. African American short stories of this period were often concerned with problematic issues of integration, separation, redefinition of the past, distant African heritage, and immediate family history. In "Everyday Use", the contrast between two sisters and the domestic struggle over old hand-made quilts reveal the use and misuse of the concept of heritage and different attitudes towards one′s familiar traditions and cultural background. Alice Walker not only explores a disturbed intrafamily relationship between three black women of the South, but represents a severe conflict within America′s black society, where new radical views and misperceptions of the word heritage collide with traditional black rural life style.
A singular general meaning of the term heritage does not exist. Dictionaries mostly carry several definitions. For example, the Reader′s Digest Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary gives the following two entries:
1. Property that is or can be inherited; an inheritance.
2. Something other than property passed down from preceding generations; a legacy; a tradition. (Rattray 789)
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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Dee's Concept of Heritage
- The Concept of Heritage of Mrs. Johnson and Maggie
- Quilts as Symbol of Cultural Heritage
- Alice Walker's Role as Literary Quiltmaker
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the concept of heritage as depicted in Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," focusing on the contrasting perspectives of the three main female characters. The analysis explores how heritage is understood and utilized within the context of the Black Power movement and its impact on African American identity.
- Conflicting interpretations of heritage within a family.
- The role of material objects in representing cultural heritage.
- The influence of societal pressures and trends on the construction of identity.
- The tension between tradition and modernity in African American culture.
- Alice Walker's portrayal of intergenerational conflict and the complexities of family relationships.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the analysis of Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," contextualizing the story within the socio-political climate of the Black Power movement. It highlights the story's exploration of conflicting perspectives on heritage, specifically focusing on the contrasting attitudes towards tradition and the redefinition of the past within African American communities. The introduction also establishes the ambiguity of the term "heritage" itself, drawing upon dictionary definitions to demonstrate its multifaceted nature.
Dee's Concept of Heritage: This chapter delves into Dee's (Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo) understanding of heritage, portraying her as a character grappling with her identity and cultural background. Her adoption of a new African name and her fascination with her family's heirlooms are analyzed. The chapter argues that Dee's approach to heritage is superficial and commodified, prioritizing aesthetics and symbolic value over genuine connection to her family history and traditions. Her actions reveal a disconnect between her outward embrace of African heritage and a lack of understanding of its deeper significance.
The Concept of Heritage of Mrs. Johnson and Maggie: This section contrasts Dee's perspective with that of her mother and younger sister, Maggie. It examines how Mrs. Johnson and Maggie understand and value their heritage through a practical and deeply personal connection to their family history, embodied in everyday objects and lived experience. Unlike Dee's adoption of heritage as a fashion statement, their understanding stems from a direct lineage and the continuity of tradition. The analysis emphasizes the importance of lived experience in shaping the meaning of heritage.
Quilts as Symbol of Cultural Heritage: This chapter focuses on the quilts as central symbols of heritage within the story. The quilts represent the tangible embodiment of family history, tradition, and the labor of black women. The contrasting desires for the quilts—Dee wanting to display them as art objects and Maggie intending to use them practically—highlight the different ways heritage can be understood and valued. This chapter emphasizes the significance of cultural artifacts as powerful representations of identity and historical continuity.
Alice Walker's Role as Literary Quiltmaker: This section analyzes Alice Walker's role as a storyteller, framing the story as a metaphorical quilt itself. It explores how Walker skillfully weaves together the narrative strands of intergenerational conflict, conflicting perspectives on heritage, and the complexities of family relationships. The analysis explores how Walker uses the story to challenge conventional understandings of heritage and to offer a more nuanced perspective on the relationship between tradition and modernity in African American culture.
Keywords
African American heritage, cultural identity, family relationships, intergenerational conflict, tradition vs. modernity, Alice Walker, Everyday Use, material culture, symbolic representation, Black Power movement.
Alice Walker's "Everyday Use": A Comprehensive FAQ
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," focusing on its exploration of heritage and its multifaceted interpretations within the context of African American identity and the Black Power movement. It analyzes the contrasting perspectives of the story's three main female characters regarding their family's heritage and the significance of cultural artifacts.
What are the key themes explored in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use"?
The key themes include conflicting interpretations of heritage within a family, the role of material objects in representing cultural heritage, the influence of societal pressures on identity construction, the tension between tradition and modernity in African American culture, and Alice Walker's portrayal of intergenerational conflict and complex family relationships.
What is the significance of the quilts in the story?
The quilts serve as central symbols of cultural heritage. They represent the tangible embodiment of family history, tradition, and the labor of Black women. The contrasting desires for the quilts—Dee wanting to display them as art and Maggie intending to use them practically—highlight different understandings and valuations of heritage.
How do the three main female characters—Dee, Mama, and Maggie—differ in their understanding of heritage?
Dee's understanding of heritage is superficial and commodified, prioritizing aesthetics and symbolic value over genuine connection to her family history. Mama and Maggie, in contrast, value their heritage through a practical and deeply personal connection to their family history and traditions. Their understanding stems from a direct lineage and the continuity of lived experience.
What is the role of the Black Power movement in the story's context?
The story is contextualized within the socio-political climate of the Black Power movement. This movement significantly influences Dee's approach to her heritage, as she attempts to embrace and reclaim her African roots. However, her approach is analyzed as being potentially superficial and disconnected from genuine understanding.
How does Alice Walker function as a "literary quiltmaker"?
The document analyzes Alice Walker's storytelling as a metaphorical "quilting" process, where she skillfully weaves together the narrative threads of intergenerational conflict, contrasting perspectives on heritage, and the complexities of family relationships to challenge conventional understandings of heritage and offer a nuanced perspective on the relationship between tradition and modernity in African American culture.
What is the purpose of this document?
The document aims to provide a structured and professional analysis of the themes in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," suitable for academic use. It offers a concise yet comprehensive language preview including the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key chapters covered in this analysis?
The analysis covers an introduction, a chapter focusing on Dee's concept of heritage, one on Mama and Maggie's perspectives, a chapter dedicated to the quilts as symbols, and a concluding chapter on Alice Walker's role as a storyteller. Each chapter provides a detailed summary of its specific contribution to the overall analysis.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include African American heritage, cultural identity, family relationships, intergenerational conflict, tradition vs. modernity, Alice Walker, Everyday Use, material culture, symbolic representation, and the Black Power movement.
- Citation du texte
- Natalie Lewis (Auteur), 2001, The Concept of Heritage in Alice Walker´s Everyday Use, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/5434
