Everyday Use :: essays research papers

                    Different points of view on flori subtlety and heritage day-to-day utilize is a literary explanation of what culture is. In Everyday Use, the author Alice Walker confronts the question of what are the true values in integritys heritage and culture. In the conflict between Dee and her mother, Alice Walker shows that ones culture and heritage are represented by neither the possession of objects or external appearances, but by the mannersstyle and attitude. In "Everyday Use, Alice Walker personifies the different sides of culture and heritage in the characters of Dee (Wangero) and her mother (the narrator). Dee can be seen to represent a complex and modern way of life where culture and heritage are to be valued. Her mother represents a practical way of life where they are valued both for it is usefulness as wholesome as personal significance. When Dee first comes to visit the fa mily, she is wearing a long dress, even though the weather is very hot. We get the impression that Dee is more active with aesthetic appearances rather than practicality. The dress is colored with enough yellow and orange "to throw back the light of the sun"(1174). Dee is also wearing numerous pieces of jewelry, earrings and bracelets. heretofore more than Alice Walkers description of Dee is the significance of Dees "name change" to Wangero that seems to symbolize Dees attitude about ones culture and heritage. It seems to reflect a sort of glittery artificial pretense put on in order to assume sophistication. Dee disregards the importance of her name, the fact that she was named after her aunt Dicie.And when asked about why she changed her name, Dee can only discharge an answer, "I couldnt bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me."(1175) Another serious detail is the words directly preceding her answer about what happened to her name V "Shes dead..." (1175) is Dees answer. By these words, Alice Walker shows that Dee has distanced herself even further from her family, heritage, and culture V despite her "new" name and the way of talking. Dee is portrayed as aggressive, to the point of total lack of regard for her family. When she first greets her family, she starts snapping pictures of the house and her mother beforehand even greeting them with a kiss or a hug, or even a handshake. Later, when they are in the house, Dee begins just taking various items for herself, anticipate they belong to