Kelsey Starling
Professor Owens
Modern English Composition 1102
22 October 2010
What are people’s beliefs? A belief is something to trust or believe in. Whether it is religion, morals, or heritage, people’s beliefs are very important to them. The story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker explains the Native Americans’ belief in their heritage. It shows how deeply rooted and important their culture is and how they live to honor and respect their ancestors. Their lives also revolve around tradition. They have great respect for the ancestors that handed down their heritage, and it is very disrespectful to deny this handed down heritage. I agree with Mama in “Everyday Use” because she greatly appreciates her belief in the Native American culture and tradition. Mama likes to live by tradition and becomes upset when one of her daughters disrespects her heritage.
The mother in “Everyday Use” is shown as a very traditional woman. She is very hard-working and is happy with everything in her life. Although her life is not luxurious, she is still very content and loves everything about it because it is from her heritage. Mama had a small house just like her ancestors did and worked just as hard as any man would, “In real life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands” (Walker 370).
She also taught her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, the tradition she was accustomed to.
Mama loved both of her daughters very much, but the two girls were different in many ways. Dee is very selfish and denies her culture by the end of the story. However, her sister, Maggie, is very proud of her culture just like her mother. During the story, Dee moves away from her family to get an education. Later, she visits but comes back only to take the family heirloom quilts. She wants these quilts for decorations. The mother was extremely insulted by Dee’s purpose of these special heirlooms. The mother realizes the difference in her daughters when Dee rudely expects to take away the quilts for this purpose. Mama finally made the right decision from Maggie’s disrespectful actions as shown in this quote, “Hang them,” she said. As if that was the only thing you could do with quilts” (Walker 376).
The Essay on Religion and Belief within Life of Pi
Throughout the novel Life of Pi the reader is faced with many recurring symbols and motifs to enhance the themes of religion and belief within the novel. It is most evident when analysing the main character Pi. He is faced with many challenges and has a great challenging uphill journey placed in front of him, but through his beliefs he is able to push through using many techniques along the way. ...
Instead of giving into Dee’s idea, the mother finally realizes the quilts belonged to Maggie because she actually appreciates her heritage. I like Mama’s decision of giving Maggie the quilts instead of Dee. I would not give my family heirlooms to someone who does not appreciate them.
The way Dee was acting when she visited home greatly upset Mama. Dee disappoints her by not being loyal to their heritage. Mama also disagrees with Dee’s suggestion to her family about the modernism she learns about while gone, “Your heritage,” she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it” (Walker 376).
I agree with Mama also about being disappointed in her daughter. Conforming into a different heritage is extremely disrespectful.
I agree with all the of Mama’s beliefs in “Everyday Use”. She respects her heritage and lives by her heritage’s traditions. She also became upset when Dee disrespects the heritage she was raised by. This helped her make the decision on giving Maggie the quilts. The decision Mama made during the story shows how loyal she is to the Native American heritage. The way Mama stands up for her heritage is also very respectful.
Works Cited
Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” 2010. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. By X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd ed. Boston: Longman, 2010. 369-376. Print.
The Essay on Walker Everyday Use Mama And Maggie
Many times an author draws from his or her personal life and incorporates his or her past into the short story. Alice Walker is one of the most respected, well-known African-American authors of her time. Alice Walker experienced a lifetime of hardship that would influence her later works, helping her to become such an astonishing author. In her short story 'Everyday Use', Walker tells the story of ...
