Every Day Use by Alice Walter

¶ … Alice Walker

Character Analysis of Maggie and Dee in "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

In the story, "Everyday Use," Alice Walker discusses the issue of family relationships and its eventual disintegration, which is synonymously illustrated by the disintegration of the African heritage that the narrator of the story clearly talks about through the narrator's daughters, Maggie and Dee.

The theme of cultural disintegration is represented by the characters of Maggie and Dee because they embody the new generation of Africans and African-Americans who have become assimilated with American culture, and has lost their sense of individuality -- that is, their African identity. Dee is characterized as an example of the new generation of Africans who do not know the real essence of her heritage; Maggie, meanwhile, represents the marginalized, yet respecting individual who managed to preserve African culture through her actions.

Analysis of the character of Dee was initially illustrated by the narrator as more powerful than that of Maggie's. The intellectual superiority of Dee over Maggie proves this point: the former's intellect made her successful in her life, going places, and meeting new people from various backgrounds. Her social and intellectual development resulted to her eventual 'disowning' of people, things, and places that she grew up with. She distanced herself from her family, and even adopted a new identity, which, ironically, brings her back to her African heritage. Adopting the new name of Wangero, Dee tries to express her cultural heritage. Yet, she remained a paradox, reiterating her cultural heritage but her actions and belief does not show tolerance, even appreciation, of things and people that are important not only to her heritage, but to her family as well.

Maggie, on the other hand, is the anti-thesis of Dee. Unlike Dee, who had become a successful individual socially and intellectually, Maggie remained at home. The narrator reasoned that her lack of intellect made her stay at home, relegated to live a life helping her mother with household work. Walker portrays a dismal image of Maggie's character in the story, proving that initially, her character is inferior to that of Dee's: "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 him? That is the way my Maggie walks ... She stumbles along good-naturedly but can't see well. She knows she is not bright. Like good looks and money, quickness passes her by."