Character: Everyday Use

In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, Walker intends to convey the irony of having an education; to the effect that when one is learned, their prospective of their own society is distorted. By introducing such an idea, the reader also sees a transformation in the character of Mama due to the arrival of the educated Dee (Wangero).

The setting of “Everyday Use” plays a role in the short story because the “typical southern” setting establishes that the characters are simple, uneducated, rural people. Mama says, “I never had an education myself” in contrast to Dee, who at a young age obtained an education. To convey further irony, Mama says, “She used to read to us…sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice…she washed us in a river of make-believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge…”(Walker 92). The diction used in Mama’s speech is sharp and graphic, in a sense that she feels inferior to Dee. “Washed us in a river of make-believe”, has the connation of one being drowned, pulled under and Mama goes on to say “[Dee] burned us with a lot of knowledge…”, although the statement is metaphorical, the connation of being burned alive is there; the idea of Dee forcing education on her family is evident.

In Dee’s defense, education was an escape out of the southern, rural setting she was used to. However, education was only an escape, she didn’t further her education to help her family; she furthered it to run away. Dee’s character in childhood and adulthood remains flat and static through out the short story because it is affirmed that, as a child, “Dee wanted nice things. A yellow organdy dress to wear to her graduation from high school; black pumps to match a green suit she’d made from an old suit…. At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was”(Walker 92). Dee during her teenage years, made efforts to go above and beyond her financial status and class; she “had a style of her own: and knew what style was”, though admirable to take what little one has and make more of it, Dee did these things in spite of her family and only for attention.

Dee’s return to the south she escaped is ironic in itself because she tried so hard to escape; however, her return affirms again her materialistic character. Dee cries out, “I knew there was something I wanted to ask you if I could have, this churn top is what I need. I want the dasher too. Can I have these old quilts?”(Walker 95). Mama can only question why Dee would want these objects that are for everyday use. The reader knows however, that Dee wants these items because they’re a part of her the African heritage she is trying to envelope. She won’t use them; these objects are to be worshipped, rather than used. Mama tells Dee that the quilts were already promised to Maggie, and Dee remarks, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts! She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use” (Walker 96). Although what Dee is saying is true, the quilts purpose is in fact to be used for everyday use. Maggie can only look at her sister with “fear but she wasn’t mad at her. This was the way she knew God to work” (Walker 97). The term God used is a reference to Dee, because Dee in the eyes of the society she grew up in is considered, “perfect” and “all knowing”. Maggie can only accept these turn of events. Mama then does something out character, she “hugged Maggie, dragged her into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap”(Walker 97). Mama was used to giving Dee whatever she wanted, and in this instance, it was out of character to refuse Dee and to show love and attention to Maggie; a character kept in the dark. Ironically, Dee’s return helped Mama reach this level of love for Maggie, that wasn’t as obvious.