Everyday Use Heritage Analysis
Everyday Use
What is heritage? Although this might seem as an easy question, it doesn’t have a correct answer. The meaning of heritage changing depending on the person. In "Everyday Use", Dee, Maggie, and Mama disagree about the true value of heritage. On their way to discover what heritage signify, they develop conflicts among them. The major conflict in the story arises over two heirloom quilts where Dee wants to have the quilts for herself, and Mama wants to give them to Maggie. Another disagreement develops between Dee and Mama over Dee's name. A minor conflict occurs involving the family house. These conflicts help readers comprehend what heritage means.
The main conflict in the story revolves around two valuable quilts where Dee wants …show more content…
Dee changes her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Wangero stated that she couldn't bear the name that was given by the people who owned her (page 55, lines 143-144). Dee is therefore rejecting part of her heritage involving her name. Her mother tries to explain that "Dee" was a name given to her by her aunt Dicie, who was named after Wangero's (Dee) grandmother Dee (page 56, lines 145-147). This further shows that Dee doesn’t know her heritage or the meaning of her name. Mama is obviously irritated by Wangero (Dee) not knowing her heritage or how to cherish her name. Dee is rejecting her name because of her assumption that it is white where as it is actually a name that was given by her ancestors. Mama didn’t want to argue much about the name because she knows that Dee is determined and will keep on talking back; therefore, this conflict was left unresolved where Mama kept using both names when referring to her daughter; Dee and …show more content…
Dee doesn’t like the house where Mama and Dee are actually enjoying and satisfied with their house and life. Mama said that the yard of the house was comfortable, clean, and cozy (page 50, lines 2-5). This clearly shows that Mama is pleasant by the house. On the other hand, Dee didn’t like the other house and since this house is similar, Mama inferred that Dee won't like it (page 54, lines 89-90). "She has hated the house that much" (page 53, line 61). Mama stated that Dee hated the old house to the extent that she was happy when it was burning down. Mama said that Dee would "tear" this house down once she sees it, and that Dee never brought any friends home (page 54, lines 90-92). Dee is ashamed of her home and that's why she never managed to bring any of her friends. Unlike her satisfied mother and sister, Dee is selfish and only wants the best. We could later see that Dee seemingly changed her opinion about her house and heritage. When Dee came back, she started taking pictures with her Polaroid of the house (page 54, lines 130-132). Dee is starting to accept her home and her "African"
What is heritage? Although this might seem as an easy question, it doesn’t have a correct answer. The meaning of heritage changing depending on the person. In "Everyday Use", Dee, Maggie, and Mama disagree about the true value of heritage. On their way to discover what heritage signify, they develop conflicts among them. The major conflict in the story arises over two heirloom quilts where Dee wants to have the quilts for herself, and Mama wants to give them to Maggie. Another disagreement develops between Dee and Mama over Dee's name. A minor conflict occurs involving the family house. These conflicts help readers comprehend what heritage means.
The main conflict in the story revolves around two valuable quilts where Dee wants …show more content…
Dee changes her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Wangero stated that she couldn't bear the name that was given by the people who owned her (page 55, lines 143-144). Dee is therefore rejecting part of her heritage involving her name. Her mother tries to explain that "Dee" was a name given to her by her aunt Dicie, who was named after Wangero's (Dee) grandmother Dee (page 56, lines 145-147). This further shows that Dee doesn’t know her heritage or the meaning of her name. Mama is obviously irritated by Wangero (Dee) not knowing her heritage or how to cherish her name. Dee is rejecting her name because of her assumption that it is white where as it is actually a name that was given by her ancestors. Mama didn’t want to argue much about the name because she knows that Dee is determined and will keep on talking back; therefore, this conflict was left unresolved where Mama kept using both names when referring to her daughter; Dee and …show more content…
Dee doesn’t like the house where Mama and Dee are actually enjoying and satisfied with their house and life. Mama said that the yard of the house was comfortable, clean, and cozy (page 50, lines 2-5). This clearly shows that Mama is pleasant by the house. On the other hand, Dee didn’t like the other house and since this house is similar, Mama inferred that Dee won't like it (page 54, lines 89-90). "She has hated the house that much" (page 53, line 61). Mama stated that Dee hated the old house to the extent that she was happy when it was burning down. Mama said that Dee would "tear" this house down once she sees it, and that Dee never brought any friends home (page 54, lines 90-92). Dee is ashamed of her home and that's why she never managed to bring any of her friends. Unlike her satisfied mother and sister, Dee is selfish and only wants the best. We could later see that Dee seemingly changed her opinion about her house and heritage. When Dee came back, she started taking pictures with her Polaroid of the house (page 54, lines 130-132). Dee is starting to accept her home and her "African"