Everyday Use by Alice Walker

http://scottengnote.blogspot.com/2007/10/everyday-use-by-alice-walker.html

http://scottengnote.blogspot.com/2007/10/everyday-use-by-alice-walker.html

Structure
1.Preparation for Dee's homecoming
2.Dee's visit
3.Dee left; after Dee Departed

Setting: at first the atmosphere was pleasant
the surroundings were friendly,peaceful,harmonious

structure
-beginning
-middle development
-end

waiting -prepartion
living room: to welcome guests, receiving
separation for a long time

a foil: a minor character, similar to the protagonist in age, ...and in many aspects of background.

character
Mother: Nameless,sacrifice,protect,unconditioned love,raise the daughters, patience
labor class, colored, blur collar
Dee: confident,aggressive,have no contribution to the family

Maggie:


Waiting for Dee's homecoming
Maggie :nurvous
The Mother: recalling the TV show she'd saw
make believe
TV shows: reunion, endearing (she tried to make believe, )
illusion <-----------------------------> reality

one foot raise in flight: ready to run
enveloped: wraped
lame: cripple

grade - for elementary school
year - high school
college- freshman, sophomore, junior, senior

/---- Dee: to force word
/ to torture
reading to show off
\
\---- Maggie:pleasant

1st house was burned down 10-12 years ago. It's shabby, tacky

Dee wanted to cut off the connection with her family.

people's name: identity, background

change one's name: denial to the old name
want a new identity

Dee -----> Hakim Abarber: a long name suggests Dee wanted to be important
Dee was a family name. continuity

trip over: walking through many obstacles
a blue streak: a lot of praises

Civil War(1861-1865)

churn-------->everyday use
quilt---------->protection also for everyday use

Dee ---> rich ---> decoration
selfish,self-centered

Climax: Mother felt like hit by the thunder and realized how nice maggie was.
true awareness, enlightenment, illumination

Ending:
Mother and Maggie enjoyed their yard and restored harmony.

How "Everyday Use" functions as an initialion story: a process, how a person grow up

---->awareness---------------------------------->more mature recognition

through Dee's home-coming and the event occured,
mother and Maggie had a groth, an inspiration.