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Everyday Use

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Everyday Use
The text “Everyday Use” is a short story written by Alice Walker, from 1967. The story is about an African-American family, a mom and her two daughters.
Maggie, the youngest daughter, is a nervous young girl and a bit of shy. “»How do I look, Mama?« Maggie says […] almost hidden by the door.” (p.10, m). The narrative, the mother, talks about the way Maggie walks. “Have you ever seen a lame animal, […] that is the way my Maggie walks.” (p. 10 m). The fire had given her scars, not only physical but also psychological. The physical scars on Maggie’s arm and legs make her feel less attractive. She looks up to her sister, Dee, even they haven’t much in case. After the mother has given the quilts to Maggie, she just sits there and smiles a real smile; there she knows that she has deserved the quilts.
Dee, the oldest daughter, is opposed to Maggie; she’s almost perfect, she is good looking with nice hair and a beautiful figure. “Dee is lighter than […] though I sometimes forget.” (p. 10. b). Style is a thing Dee has too, “At sixteen she had a style […] and knew what style was.” Maggie thinks that Dee gets just what she wants and she doesn’t have the most difficult life. “She thinks her sister […] the world never learned to say to her.” (p. 9. m). When Dee is coming out of the car, the mother and Maggie see that she wearing accessories. “Earrings gold, too, […] the dress out of her armpits.” It shows us that she has success and tells that she is a strong woman, who is independent. Dee takes some pictures of her mother, her sister and the house. “She never takes a shot […] and kisses me on the forehead.” (p. 12, b). It seems like she has missed them and wants some memories, for when she has moved on in her life. Dee has changed her name to Wangero, because she wouldn’t be called Dee any longer. “»Well.« I said. […] Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo«“ (p. 13, t).

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