Theme and Characterization Critique of “Everyday Use”
“Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker, is set in the South based upon an African American family consisting of three women. The clash of traditional values is illustrated through the dialog and actions of each character. The characters Mrs. Johnson and her two daughters, Maggie and Dee, are constructed with unique personalities that set the theme in motion. The central themes of this story include the fight between tradition and the conformation of race.
The story begins with the narration of Mrs. Johnson, who does not mention her name, but describes herself to be a strong woman. “One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledge hammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall.” (Walker 1513) Mrs. Johnson can be perceived of having a fatherly personality to effectively care for her family. Her genuine motherly characterization puts her daughters before herself, therefore making her a selfless character. Mrs. Johnson describes the personalities of her daughters, and she mentions a traumatic family experience: a house fire. The house that collapsed around her family caused serious burns on her youngest daughter, Maggie. Mrs. Johnson describes Maggie’s personality according to the way she approaches a person. “Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to own a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to them? That is the way my Maggie walks.” (Walker 1513) Maggie is a shy character; she is neither brave nor loud. Although she does not stand out much, Maggie is secondary to her older sister Dee. Dee, who later becomes Wangero, is a fashionable person. Staying updated with what is in style is important to her. “At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was.” (Walker 1514) Dee’s preferences set her apart from her family because her mother is unable to provide the nice things Dee...