Everyday Use
Do you know someone who reminds you of Mama, Dee or Maggie? Can you relate to the values, traits, or personalities of any one of these individuals? Most likely, you will answer yes to these questions if you have read Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use”. This story about a mother and her two daughters is written with dynamic use of characterization throughout the story that enables the reader to relate to each character and get a true sense of their values, personalities, and physical traits as they read the story.
Mama’s character, lifestyle, perceptions of her daughters, and her heritage are described at the very onset of the story. Alice Walker begins the story by providing the reader with a direct presentation of Mama’s character. Mama is the narrator in the story. Through direct presentation of Mama’s character, Walker demonstrates to the reader that Mama’s is an authoritative character, capable of narrating this story. Mama explains to the readers that “In real life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands” (Walker 167). Walker supplements Mama’s strong character with indirect presentation where Mama’s actions are described to the reader. “I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog. One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledge hammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall” (Walker).
Maggie, the youngest daughter, lives at home with Mama.
In the beginning of the story, it is clear that Mama is looking forward to reuniting with her older daughter and preserving her family heritage. “I will wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy yesterday afternoon” (Walker 166). She is referring to Dee’s return from school. Walker characterizes Mama’s need for acceptance from Dee,...
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