Introduction
Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” and Elizabeth Bishop’s “Filling Station” are short tales about family and identity. Both stories depict a family attempting to establish their identities and make meaning of their circumstances. Maggie, the primary character of “Everyday Use”, strives to discover her place in her family and her flesh. Father, the main character of “Filling Station,” is striving to figure out his position in the world and his own identity. Both stories examine the themes of family and identity and how they intersect.
“Everyday Use”
Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” is a short tale about a woman and her two kids, Maggie and Dee. The mother and her two girls dwell in the rural south, where the action takes place. Dee, the oldest, is a well-educated woman proud of her African origin, whereas Maggie is shy and illiterate. The tension begins when Dee returns from college and wants the quilts that Maggie’s mother had prepared for her dowry. The mother must choose between giving in to Dee’s demands and honoring Maggie’s wishes by keeping the quilts.
Finally, the mother gives Maggie the quilts, adding, “I’ll think of the two of them [the quilts] on Maggie’s bed.” That’s all I can do for them both” (Walker 1043). This choice demonstrates her devotion to Maggie and her understanding of the value of legacy and custom. Finally, the mother learns that functionality is more essential than appearance or worth.
“Filling Station”
Elizabeth Bishop’s “Filling Station” explores the state of a run-down filling station through imagery and sensory nuances. Bishop gives a vivid picture of the station, noting how the air is “oil-soaked” and “oil-permeated” (3). The speaker, however, sees beauty in the landscape, praising the “embroidered in daisy stitch with marguerites” (Bishop 31). Bishop says the station has a hidden beauty that may be appreciated if one looks hard enough. She says, “somebody loves us all” (line 41), implying that no matter how lowly a location is, it merits love and attention.
Comparison
Both stories’ main protagonists face comparable challenges. Maggie is fighting to identify her identity and her role in her family in “Everyday Use.” She feels rejected by her mother and sister, Dee, and is an outcast. Maggie feels she doesn’t belong anywhere and seeks a sense of belonging. Father in the “Filling Station” is similarly fighting to find his position in the world. He feels like an alien in his family, estranged from his son and daughter. Moreover, he seeks a sense of direction and significance in his life.
Both stories deal with the themes of family and identity. Maggie and Dee’s connection in “Everyday Use” explores the concept of family. Alice Walker depicts a family split by conflicting views and ideals in the novel. Maggie is the daughter who represents the traditional, country lifestyle, whereas Dee represents the contemporary, metropolitan lifestyle. Both daughters seek a sense of self and a place in their families.
The interaction between Father and his son in “Filling Station” explores identity. The narrative depicts a parent struggling to find his place in the world and comprehend his identity. Mr. Bishop is having difficulty connecting with his kid and demonstrating who he is as a person.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both themes are ultimately about family and identity. “Everyday Use” delves into the concept of family and how differing values and ideas may separate a family. The narrative “Filling Station” delves into identity and how a parent might struggle to comprehend his identity and connect with his son. Both stories are compelling and thought-provoking, providing readers with an insight into the complicated and ever-changing nature of family and identity.
Works Cited
Bishop, Elizabeth. “Filling Station by Elizabeth Bishop | Poetry Foundation.” Poetry Foundation, 2019, Web.
Walker, Alice. Everyday Use. 1973. Rutgers University Press, Web.