Everyday Use
By: Alice Walker

After reading this short story, I came to the conclusion that Maggie, Dee, and their mother are African American women.  I figured this out on page 175, when the mother explains that her school was closed down as a child.  "Don't ask me why: in 1927 colored asked fewer questions than they do now" (Walker).  An important literary device that I noticed Walker frequently uses is indirect characterization.  She describes things in great, specific detail.  Personally, Walker's descriptions of appearances and actions of the characters helped me better comprehend the situations taking place in the story.  The mother is a large woman. She is able to survive in tough conditions, which helps her work as hard as she does.  Dee, the oldest daughter, is described to have "nicer hair and a fuller figure" (Walker).  She seems to be a lot more independent and a bit high-maintenance.  Her sister Maggie is more shy and reserved.  Part of this is because of a fire that burned down their old house, which heavily affected the younger daughter.  Just by Walker's descriptions, readers are able to picture what the characters look like.  Knowing what they look like assists us in understanding their actions.  Dee seems like she is very concerned with preserving her heritage in the constantly changing world.  She has a strong desire for quilts that her grandmother made years ago.  She gets a little bit possessive and selfish over them, though.  This is where I came up with my thought that Dee is somewhat high-maintenance.  By the end of the story, it seems as though the mother has suddenly started acting differently.  When she denies Dee the two quilts, everyone in the scene acts shocked.  I assume that the mother is normally a push-over and wants to always please her daughters.  In addition to the mother's sudden change of character, Maggie has a slight change of attitude.  She sincerely smiles to her sister when she leaves, and Maggie is normally very awkward and standoff-ish.  She wouldn't even get into a picture with her mother at the beginning of the story.  By describing the looks and actions of the characters, Alice Walkers helps readers understand the different personalities of the women.