Everyday Use

"Everyday Use" is a profound story that talks about the value of things. The story describes a humble family of three; the mother and the two daughters, Dee and Maggy. At the same time, the only thing that seems to connect them is the fact that they belong to the same family. The mother is a hardworking single mother that raised her daughters based on her efforts against all the hardships that life had in store for them, like their house burnt down. Dee was smart, delicate, and beautiful, while Maggy was shy, and not as bright. Dee came back from college with a different view of what certain objects in the house represent; she even changed her name to a more African one. The conflict is about churn and some quilts. For the mother and Maggy, these are everyday use items, that is the value they warrant them. On the other hand, for Dee, she learned to see these artifacts as relics, something that should be preserved for future generations to appreciate its beauty. It is hard to tell who is right since both of them seem to have a valid reason for their premises. However, in the end, the mother sided with Maggy and gave her the quilts.

Comments

  1. Esin OzildizNovember 14, 2019 at 8:05 AM

    I feel that Dee wants the quilts not for “heritage” purposes, but rather for decor in a new era to blend with her different lifestyle compared to her mother and sister. I feel that Dee appreciated the men’s craftsmanship rather than those of the women in the family.

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