During the semester, several works were studied. “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson were exciting pieces of literature. The “Everyday Use” is a short story that highlights the plight of African -Americas who were trying to redefine their social, cultural, and political identity. It mainly focuses on the African culture that had survived for several centuries in America. During this period, many Africans tried to trace their background by reconnecting with their African roots. However, “The Lottery” is a narrative that demonstrates an annual event that occurs in a small town in the contemporary US. The community members organize the event, and it takes place on June 27, and randomly selected persons are brutally murdered by the mob during the function. Although the two stories use tradition as their central theme, “Everyday Use” illustrates the beauty of tradition while the lottery demonstrates its brutality.
In “Everyday Use”, the theme of tradition is highly defined by the single-family members, showing its beauty. It is mainly depicted on the physical materials meant for daily use, such as the quilts. The tradition is still practiced by Mama and her daughter, Maggie, which is illustrated from their lives. Dee, Mama’s elder daughter, regards the quilts as traditional, but she only appreciates them in the academic context. She views the quilts as a long history that she has neglected and not representing a family. As a result, she wants to use them for display instead of the function they are intended for, which Maggie understands, and, therefore, she gains entitlement over the quilts. Thus, the quilts demonstrate making the traditions thrive instead of making the quilts appear as mere artifacts.
Additionally, Dee believes that she is entitled to the quilts than Maggie since she is more learned, and, therefore, she understands that the objects have historical importance. In her observation, her college background should supersede the promise Mama made to Maggie of giving her the quilts as a marriage gift. However, Mama asserts her decision by maintaining the tradition of keeping the quilts as they are supposed to be passed from one generation to another. Mama’s refusal to offer the quilts to Dee illustrates the rejection of Dee’s idealized view of tradition, and instead, she embraces a continually developing heritage. Although Maggie and Mama’s knowledge of tradition could be influenced by the education and understanding of their African roots, their loyalty to their family history makes their knowledge about using the quilts more authentic than Dee’s since she is distanced from her family’s way of life.
Moreover, Dee and Mama have divergent views about the meaning of tradition. Mama believes that objects that are made for the family are embedded within the family that made and used them. The family treasures are critical to defining one’s heritage and origin, but her elder daughter has less knowledge about her past. This is illustrated when Dee confuses how the objects were made and the materials used for making the quilts, although she pretends to be connected to her heritage (Walker, 1973). Therefore, the objects are foreign to her, although she admires them and wishes to use them as artifacts. Mama, therefore, believes that Maggie is the right person to own the objects because she will respect them by using them for the correct purpose.
However, in “The Lottery,” the theme of tradition is used to show its brutality. The villagers depicted in the story perform a lottery every year because it has been conducted ever since their ancestors existed. The ritual is not a typical lottery that one may believe, but it is a practice that villagers are selected randomly from the community to be murdered by being subjected to mob justice. The lottery is pointless because it does not keep order, neither does it maintain social order nor encourage villagers to adopt certain ways of living. However, the lottery is conducted because it is simply a tradition but not attached to any spiritual belief. Even though there is no value in practicing the lottery, the villagers believe that abandoning the practice will bring trouble to the community, yet, there is no evidence to support this notion.
Additionally, Jackson uses the theme of tradition by showcasing the universal idea about the brutality of humans. The author illustrates traditions supersedes humans by holding power by continuing to exist while at the same time resisting the will to change and critical thought (Jackson, 1948). Through this interpretation, people can think that the author is attacking the tradition; however, he gives the vices of following a tradition blindly without evaluating the importance and why it is practiced. Additionally, the theme provides one with a chance to avoid letting custom controls one’s action regardless of the immorality levels associated with the practice.
In conclusion, the theme of tradition has been used differently in the short stories “Everyday Use” and “The Lottery.” Walker beautifully illustrates the theme by showing the importance of continuing the practices initiated by the ancestors. Besides, tradition shows the connection between the present and the past generations, thus enhancing the continuity of family lineage. However, Jackson provides a different view of tradition by showing the brutality of the practice if the villagers blindly follow it. Therefore, tradition should be questioned before upholding the practice that at times may be immoral.
References
Jackson, S. (1948). The lottery. The New Yorker. Web.
Walker, A. (1973). Everyday Use. Haper’s Magazine. Web.