Self Identity Shaped by Traditions
Self Identity Shaped by Traditions
The identity of one's self can largely be defined by one's culture and heritage. Family makes up the most part of your culture as well as the place you call home. To fully understand yourself you have to investigate all the cultures you are comprised of through your family and heritage. In “Everyday Use” Alice Walker takes a deeper look at the concept of heritage through the conflicted relationship of Mamma and her two daughters. The story shows was heritage will shape yourself along with your life to make you the person you are today.
Culture is an important element of self- identity and contributes to how individuals view themselves and the community they live in. Family is our foundation. If we do not have a foundation to build on, having a strong sense of self might be difficult. Your family is where you get your basic beliefs and understanding about life. In the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, the author portrays opposing ideas about one's heritage. In Dee's case, she goes out to make all that can of herself while leaving her past behind, in comparison to Maggie, who stays back with her roots and makes the most out of the surroundings that she has been placed in. This story gives a great example of how culture can shape your self-identity. Both characters decided to take their culture and do different things with it. Dee decided to change her name and shy away from the way that she was raised, to make herself her own person (Walker 420). On the other hand Maggie does the complete opposite. The family quilts bring out issues relating to heritage to Mama, and she is able to reasonably decide which of her daughters has a real appreciation for the quilt, and can pass it on to her. Dee and Maggie shed a new light on the actual meaning of heritage through their personality traits, lifestyle decisions, and relationships with specific family members (Walker 422).
Similar to Walkers argument, Amy Schalet’s
The identity of one's self can largely be defined by one's culture and heritage. Family makes up the most part of your culture as well as the place you call home. To fully understand yourself you have to investigate all the cultures you are comprised of through your family and heritage. In “Everyday Use” Alice Walker takes a deeper look at the concept of heritage through the conflicted relationship of Mamma and her two daughters. The story shows was heritage will shape yourself along with your life to make you the person you are today.
Culture is an important element of self- identity and contributes to how individuals view themselves and the community they live in. Family is our foundation. If we do not have a foundation to build on, having a strong sense of self might be difficult. Your family is where you get your basic beliefs and understanding about life. In the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, the author portrays opposing ideas about one's heritage. In Dee's case, she goes out to make all that can of herself while leaving her past behind, in comparison to Maggie, who stays back with her roots and makes the most out of the surroundings that she has been placed in. This story gives a great example of how culture can shape your self-identity. Both characters decided to take their culture and do different things with it. Dee decided to change her name and shy away from the way that she was raised, to make herself her own person (Walker 420). On the other hand Maggie does the complete opposite. The family quilts bring out issues relating to heritage to Mama, and she is able to reasonably decide which of her daughters has a real appreciation for the quilt, and can pass it on to her. Dee and Maggie shed a new light on the actual meaning of heritage through their personality traits, lifestyle decisions, and relationships with specific family members (Walker 422).
Similar to Walkers argument, Amy Schalet’s