Introduction
Everyday Use is a short story written by American author Alice Walker. The narrative revolves around an African-American family and the conflict they face, primarily the schisms created by money, materialism, and greed. The set of characters is relatively narrow (Mama, Maggie, Dee, and Hakim-a-barber), but can showcase a distinct clash of worldviews. The story aims to display how greed and materialism stain a person’s soul despite their other admirable qualities, such as beauty or success.
Discussion
The story’s main focus is Dee’s relationship with money and what she views as success, as well as the distress she causes. She is unable to find happiness in poverty, unlike her family, and it leads to her behaving poorly towards her mother and sister, going from hateful to condescending over time (Walker 316). She does not think highly of her family as she exchanges meaningful glances with her partner over her mother’s head (Walker 318). Her striving for a different identity practically blinds her to other, more humane aspects of life, such as compassion, empathy, and connection with family. For example, she refuses the name, Dee, claiming she does not want to be named after her oppressors (Walker 318). She continues to completely disregard her family’s values by not appreciating being named after a long line of women in her kin.
Symbolism in this story shines through the subject of the family house burning down. When the fire struck, Maggie was left with scars that led to her being nervous and self-conscious. Maggie’s side of the story views this event as a tragedy, while for Dee, it was a point of delight. Dee was glad to see the old house destroyed as she wanted a new one (Walker 316). She could never be satisfied with the pure joys that her sister and mother had, needing to purchase fancy dresses and jewelry to make her happy.
Greed and how it affects people’s relationship with culture is a large aspect of the narrative. Dee is presented as greedy, as she is more infatuated with the display value of her heritage than its spiritual meaning. This is exemplified through her approach to quilts made by her grandmother. She aspires to have them as display items, which compares sharply to her sister’s approach. Maggie sees the quilts as a part of her family history, a way that allows her to remember her dead grandmother (Walker 321). The subject of greed goes hand in hand with the subject of ungratefulness that Dee expresses towards her family. It is stated that her parents and church managed to gather money for her education (Walker 316). However, she does not express appreciation for this deed but rather expects to be given more.
Another aspect of the story is money and the value that people place on it. Maggie and Mama are not wealthy but are content with their life. Maggie is satisfied with living a simple and stable life with her future husband in the same town where she grew up. On the other hand, Dee is enthralled with the pursuit of wealth and materialistic gain, and she cannot find happiness in it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Everyday Use by Alice Walker is a story that captures themes of monetary pursuit, materialism, and greed by drawing a comparison between members of an African-American family. It shows that materialism and greed can shadow a person’s perception of heritage and familial relationships, making them devoid of compassion and empathy. The display of Maggie and Mama’s contentment with their lifestyle communicates that money is not the most important factor in a person’s life.
Work Cited
Walker, Alice. Everyday Use. Harper’s Magazine Foundation, 1973.