Everyday Use by Alice Walker Analysis

Document Type:Thesis

Subject Area:Literature

Document 1

She is aware of the rivalry between her daughter and worries that Maggie will be uncomfortable with Dee’s stay. Sometimes she fantasizes of Dee and Maggie reuniting just like the scenes she has watched on the television. It is narrated in first person with “mama” as the main character. The black women in this story are struggling with racism and being identified among the white community as a black woman. In this paper I will discuss the literary devices used by Alice Walker. For instance, she expresses compassion while talking to Maggie but uses a sarcastic tone to respond to Dee. The language used by the author expresses the intelligence levels of the characters. Mama and Maggie are uneducated, while Dee is educated and more exposed.

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However, despite lacking education, Maggie sews quilts and makes cheese and butter. Mama also feels that Dee is going against their culture by changing her identity from Dee to Wangero. The reader understands that mama is a hardworking woman who uses her big body appropriately. She also says that Carson does a lot to keep up with her witty tongue. This explains that mama is a clever woman who uses her words wisely. Figurative language is the use of words with different meanings to make an article or story enjoyable. The author has used figurative language on several occasions. The author has used a simile in paragraph five of the story. The narrator states that “her skin looked like uncooked barley pancake” (Walker n.

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p). This has contributed to the development race as a theme. Mama has used this simile to explain the color Dee would love to have. They feel intimidated by that fact thus the narrator expresses her thoughts about the information through the metaphor. Realistically knowledge and information cannot burn or cause harm to anyone. The metaphor has been used to emphasize the changes Dee has experienced. Conflict is among the main themes in this story. It is between Maggie and Dee. In this story, the cultures are the African American and the white’s culture. In conclusion, the story passes a message about the different cultures and the kind of reception they receive from different people. A person has a right to choose the kind of life they want to live.

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