Analytical essay: Everyday use by Alice walker
The story has employed the use of characterization and symbolism which plays a vital role in literature in general, since characterization allows the authors of literature pieces as it will enable dialogues to reveal the nature of the characters to inject the objective of the literature pieces concerning the values or norms representation. Symbolism has an essential place in literature pieces to create emotions by attaching them to specific objects presented in literature pieces to highlight a physical trait as attached to a character or outline the important role the character plays in a literature piece. The author uses characterization and symbolism effectively to highlight the essential values and nature of the characters in the story Everyday use by Alice walker.
Characterization and symbolism have been manifested in the story “Everyday use by Alice walker” and is first experienced or introduced in the story when Dee who is considered to be the most literate member of their family and her companion comes back to her family home to pay a courtesy visit to her mother and younger sibling or sister known as Maggie. This encounter marks the injection and introduction of characterization and symbolism literary elements in the story as it creates an avenue for integration between two diverse views and perception of the African-American culture. The author uses characterization and symbolism to explain the difference that exists on these perceptions and views to uphold a given one, hence illustrating the importance of culture and heritage as a component of human’s day to day part of life. At the beginning of the story, the characterization of Mrs. Johnson takes center stage. The message portrayed by Mrs. Johnson signifies her attachment to her physical environment. Dee’s mother says, “in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy” this signifies her relationship together with Maggie that exists with their yard. It is even further emphasized by the use of the word “so” to show the intensity of this attachment or relationship. Symbolism, on the other hand, is used when Maggie is highlighted in the story as unattractive and shy, and her mother manifests this by saying, “like good looks and money, quickness passed her by.”
Characterization and symbolism are used in the middle of the story. Characterization is manifested in this context when Dee’s mother seems to have come into terms with Dee’s change of culture, and she seems to warmly and comfortably refer to her by her newfound name “Wangero,” Dee’s mother says, “I said, and saw Wangero was getting tired. That’s about as far back as I can trace it” this characterizes Dee as an African as per her traditional and cultural heritage, which she aspires. Symbolism, on the other hand, is found in this context, when there is an explanation concerning Maggie’s skin, the scars in her body represents the rough and tough life experiences. Besides that, the quilts promised by her mum when she gets married represent an epic of symbolism in the story as it highlights the traditions and culture of Johnson. Dee’s mother says the quilts were “pieced by Grandma Dee and then Big Dee.”
At the end of the story, as Dee leaves their house, she tries to claim ownership of the handmade quilts because her ego makes her believe it is only her who deserves them and the only one who knows their value. Symbolism is therefore used to showcase the conflict created by the integration of the cultural and heritage setup as narrated in the story. Her mother, however, disputes her quest for taking the quilts as she has promised them to Maggie and that they have significant use, not just as an item to be admired. As the story concludes, Dee criticizes her mother for not respecting her cultural heritage but rather let Maggie have the quilts. Characterization is manifested in this case by the character of Maggie as a quitter when she says, “She can have them, Mama,” whereas symbolism is manifested in the representation of the heritage clash as exhibited I the altercation between Dee and her mother. Dee says, “Your heritage,” she said, and then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, “You ought to try to make something of yourself.”
The story highlights the epic of fusion of the African-American culture through the use of characterization and symbolism elements to create certain character identifications which help define each character in understanding their role in the story and to highlight themes such as heritage, lack of reciprocity and self-gratification as identified by the behavior of Dee in term of her attitude to her mother and sister. The symbolism is also used to highlight the cultural heritage, in this regard, quilts play an important role in symbolizing the Johnsons’ cultural heritage as manifested by the nature of conflict it arouses at the end of the story by the altercation it creates between Dee and her mother on who should take the quilts. Dee’s companion’s name and the fact that he does not eat pork symbolizes her Islamic cultural heritage.
References
Walker, A. (2002). “Everyday Use.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
(8th ed). New York: Longman, 88-95.
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