The short story ”Everyday Use” by Alice Walker describes the encounter of the educated and independent daughter Dee, her mother and the younger sister Maggie, who live a simple and traditional life together.
A conflict between the different understandings of culture and traditions arises, when Dee wants to claim two old quilts which her mother had previously promised to Maggie.
This short summary is meant to briefly display the facts and introduce the reader to the subject dealt with in this short story. The story’s central theme concerns the way different individuals understand their culture in relation to their present life.
The following analyses of this text will use Walker’s personal situation with regard to her heritage to show how critical circumstances and outer influences affected her writing of this story. It will also go into further detail about the historical background that goes hand in hand with Walker’s experiences.
