A symbol is a person, place, event, or object that suggests more than just its normal meaning. The symbols in this story, “Everyday Use”, were pretty clever and told a lot of clues about the story. Also Little peepholes that would dig into deeper meanings, and hints in the story. The first symbol, which I thought meant something was towards Maggie and Dee’s mom. “I was always better at a man’s job.” (pg. 320).
“In real life I am a large, big boned woman with rough, man- working hands.” (pg. 318).
“I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man.” (pg. 318) I think because man was used a lot referring to their Mom, might have meant that she was the man of the house. Maybe that she was the only parent and that her husband was never around to help after the kids were born. So she really had to be tough and do a lot of things that the men would usually do.
Another symbol I found was one that goes along with Dee. “She burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know.” (pg. 319).
“It is hard to see them clearly through the strong sun.” (pg. 320).
“Dee next.
A dress down to the ground, in this hot weather.” (pg. 320).
“There are yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun. I feel my whole face warming from the heat waves it throws out.” (Pgs. 320-321).
“She put on some sunglasses that hid everything about the tip of her nose and her chin.” (pg.
The Essay on Characters From Different Novels Character Story Dee
Analysis Of Characters From Different Novels Essay, Analysis Of Characters From Different Novels Throughout literature, the value of a story may be determined through the merit of the characters within. The merit of characters may be judged on three criteria, the first being plausibility or how feasible a certain character is – a characteristic perfectly exemplified in the story "I'm a Fool' ...
324).
I think because we don’t quite know if she burned down the house, these quotes might be hinting at it. They all have the symbol of hot things like fire or warmth when talking about Dee. I think it might have been a clever way of telling the readers that she did indeed start the fire, which burned down the house that she didn’t like. ” What happened to Dee?” I wanted to know. “She’s dead,” Wang ero said.
” I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.” (pg. 321).
I think this might be a clue that Dee herself is a symbol of change. Knowing that she wanted to change her name and she could have started the house on fire because she wanted a change, a new house. Another symbol that she is change might be how Maggie has scars from the fire I think Dee started and will never change her look, but Dee will always be able to change.
” Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” She said ” She’d probably be back-ward enough to put them to everyday use.” (pg. 323).
This I’m assuming is another give away that Dee represents change. She wouldn’t use a quilt for everyday use because she would always want to be changing things, not using them everyday.
Unlike Maggie who will always have those scares and would always use the quilts. I’m thinking that the author’s main use of these symbols probably suggest that she was pushing the theme of the story. That we, the readers, could possibly understand what the whole purpose of this story meant. The symbols were clues into deeper understandings of the story and how different Dee was from the rest of her family.
