Everyday Use By Alice Walker - 1002 Words

In the story â€Å"Everyday Use† the author Alice Walker describes the family as being dysfunctional. The sisters Maggie and Dee despise each other. Mama feels as if she is not the way her daughters will like and or appreciate her. The mother adores both of her children, they all want the best for each other, but the relationship between Mama, Maggie, and Dee is flawed. Mama has insecurities about herself that give her a negative outlook on the world around her. Mama describes herself as being a â€Å"large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands† (p.315). She thinks her daughters will appreciate her more if she was â€Å"a hundred pounds lighter, skin like an uncooked barley pancake, and hair that glistens in hot bright lights† (p.315). She has†¦show more content†¦Mama exclaimed, â€Å"Why don’t you do a dance around the ashes?† (316). Dee always wanted nice things, although mama felt that Dee was ungrateful, she still managed to r aise money for her church to send Dee off to school in Augusta. Throughout the many trails in tribulations the family faces, Mama will always make a way for her daughters to have what they need. Mama shows favoritism towards Maggie because of her disability. Maggie’s disability allows Mama to become closer with Maggie instead of Dee. Dee wanted to be sent off to school to get away from the rural and deficiency lifestyle. Mama and Maggie gain a close bond while Dee is away. Maggie appreciated their heritage and did not mind staying with Mama and doing household work. Mama’s viewpoint on Maggie is more appreciative than her views on Dee. Maggie is the younger sister of the two. Parallel to Mama, Maggie also suffer from insecurities. Dee is lighter than Maggie with nicer hair and a fuller figure. Maggie was burned in the house fire and she shuffles when she walks. She is described as being shy, unable to make eye contact, and does not like to be seen when other people a re around. The story tells how â€Å"she stand hopelessly in the corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arm and legs, eyeing her sister with a mixture of envy and awe† (p.315). Maggie’s thought of her sister is that she has always held life in the palm of one hand, that’s â€Å"no† is a word the world never learned to