Everyday UseEveryday Use“Everyday Use ”In the story “Everyday Use”, by Alice Walker, two teenage African American siblings are related by blood but differ in personality, education and physical appearance. Dee is the character that is outgoing, out spoken and educated. Maggie is still living at home with her mother, has trouble reading and is not as well dressed as Dee. The mother of both these young girls is accepting of the both, although she herself recognizes the great differences.
Dee is some one who as her mother says “Dee, tough. She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature.”(161). Dee speaks what is on her mind and does not hesitate to do so. She is more educated than Maggie; Dee attended a school in Augusta. Physical appearance is also a way that they are different; Dee has a lighter skin complexion and Maggie a darker tone. The way they dress is remarkably different as the author points out about Dee,”Her feet were always neat-looking, as if God himself had shaped them with a certain style. ..Earrings gold, too, hanging down to her shouldersBracelets dangling and making noises…” (163).
Maggie is less educated than Dee as the author says “Sometimes Maggie reads to me. She stumbles along good-naturedly but cant see well. She knows she is not bright.”(163). Maggie is also less good looking than Dee as described here “Like good looks and money, quickness passed her by.”(163). Maggie is a shy quiet young girl, who lives at home with her mother. She is a darker skin complexion than Dee who is lighter. Maggie is less out going or sociable than Dee for example when Asalamalakim was trying to shake her hand the author says” Maggies hand is as limp as a fish, and probably as cold, despite the sweat, and she keeps trying to pull it back.”(164).
”(164). Maggie is also more of a good-hearted girl, who is more socially available when she has dinner with her parents and her sisters. Maggie is a quiet person with a shy personality, so when she goes inside to find her mother it is a safe play to go or sit down, though there may be a fight to see her mother or friends or others. Maggie is also happier in herself than in the family. Maggie’s most love is with her mother, but can make love to a lot more men and boys. Maggie is also more sensitive and intelligent than Dee, and she understands she is not all-powerful in the family.„(165). She is one of the “greats” of the land and was so blessed with his blood. Maggie is a poor woman, but she has a sense of what she needs and does it for others.‟(166). Maggie is an open-minded young woman and she is not inclined to take her own interests in too great a degree.‟(166).‧(167). Maggie also gets into the habit of looking down on people and other people. Like Dali does in the book, Maggie doesn´t do that much talking down people. She finds all her friends are doing “really mean things” ‧The good humor, good humour ‧(168). Maggie becomes very attached to her people ‧(169). Maggie gets lonely and tries to change her nature by changing her clothes often to make her clothes more feminine, and often by getting drunk more often. (170). Her life is very complex & she has many personal affairs, (171). Maggie is also more than just an angel, she is the heart of the Nation of Islam, the only true protector of Allah, with the most positive sense of himself. This gives to others to have their own personal integrity and to feel that self-esteem (172). Maggie is the heart of the Nation of Islam (173). She is also an easy woman, and the best lover of Dali ․(174). Maggie is also easy to love, as evidenced by her love for Dali. She loves her country, as shown by her husband’s love for her ․(175). Maggie has always been one thing that
”(164). Maggie is also more of a good-hearted girl, who is more socially available when she has dinner with her parents and her sisters. Maggie is a quiet person with a shy personality, so when she goes inside to find her mother it is a safe play to go or sit down, though there may be a fight to see her mother or friends or others. Maggie is also happier in herself than in the family. Maggie’s most love is with her mother, but can make love to a lot more men and boys. Maggie is also more sensitive and intelligent than Dee, and she understands she is not all-powerful in the family.„(165). She is one of the “greats” of the land and was so blessed with his blood. Maggie is a poor woman, but she has a sense of what she needs and does it for others.‟(166). Maggie is an open-minded young woman and she is not inclined to take her own interests in too great a degree.‟(166).‧(167). Maggie also gets into the habit of looking down on people and other people. Like Dali does in the book, Maggie doesn´t do that much talking down people. She finds all her friends are doing “really mean things” ‧The good humor, good humour ‧(168). Maggie becomes very attached to her people ‧(169). Maggie gets lonely and tries to change her nature by changing her clothes often to make her clothes more feminine, and often by getting drunk more often. (170). Her life is very complex & she has many personal affairs, (171). Maggie is also more than just an angel, she is the heart of the Nation of Islam, the only true protector of Allah, with the most positive sense of himself. This gives to others to have their own personal integrity and to feel that self-esteem (172). Maggie is the heart of the Nation of Islam (173). She is also an easy woman, and the best lover of Dali ․(174). Maggie is also easy to love, as evidenced by her love for Dali. She loves her country, as shown by her husband’s love for her ․(175). Maggie has always been one thing that
Dee and Maggie are both African American teens whose ancestors were oppressed by slavery. They both share the same background, and live with the