What is the rising action in everyday use?

Rising Action: The family sits down to eat, and Dee’s boyfriend doesn’t care for the food. However, Dee surprisingly found everything delightful. She then starts to admire everything in the house and insists that she take some of the items back to display at her house.

What is the external conflict in everyday use?

In “Everyday Use” the inner and outer conflicts are interrelated. They both involve the female culture of the Johnson family, as symbolized by the heirlooms of the quilts and the butter churn. The external conflict is mainly between Mrs. Johnson and Dee over who should receive the heirlooms.

Why does Mama refuse to let Dee take the quilts?

The mother’s refusal to let Dee have the quilts does indicate a permanent change in her character as this was building up for some time. She had never done anything like it before, because she has always admired Dee for her beauty and successfulness. The moments before Dee asks about the quilts, foreshadow the refusal.

Why does Dee change her name to Wangero?

Expert Answers Dee changes her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo as a way to establish her new identity as an independent, proud African woman. In doing so, Dee rejects her traditional family heritage in favor of renouncing the former slave owners that initially named her ancestors.

Why does Maggie smile at the end of everyday use?

Maggie has a real smile at the end of the story “Everyday Use” because she appreciates Mama coming to her defense and recognizes that she shares her feelings regarding their family’s heritage. Maggie also smiles because she feels worthy and has won a small victory against her successful, arrogant sister.

What does Dee symbolize in everyday use?

Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” highlights the importance of cultural heritage and family history through strong uses of symbolism. Dee is a symbol of success, accompanied by her lack of remembrance and care for her ancestral history. Maggie, her sister, is a symbol of respect and passion for the past.

What is the purpose of everyday use?

In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker argues that an African-American is both African and American, and to deny the American side of one’s heritage is disrespectful of one’s ancestors and, consequently, harmful to one’s self. She uses the principal characters of Mama, Dee (Wangero), and Maggie to clarify this theme.

What is significant about the name Hakim a barber?

Hakim-a-barber is a Black Muslim whom Mama humorously refers to as Asalamalakim, the Arab greeting he offers them, meaning “peace be with you.” An innocuous presence, he is a short and stocky, with waist-length hair and a long, bushy beard.

What kind of person is Mama in everyday use?

Mama, the narrator of the story, is a strong, loving mother who is sometimes threatened and burdened by her daughters, Dee and Maggie. Gentle and stern, her inner monologue offers us a glimpse of the limits of a mother’s unconditional love.

Who is the antagonist in everyday use?

Dee, or Wangero, is the antagonist of the story “Everyday Use.” Her inability to appreciate the true meaning of the quilts is the basis of the conflict in the story.

Why does Dee want the quilts?

Why does Dee want the quilts? Dee wants the quilts so she can hang them up in her home and remember her heritage. At the end of the story, the mother “snatched the quilts out of Mrs. Wangero’s hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap” (8).

Why are the quilts valuable to Mama?

Dee calls the quilts priceless, as she recognizes it as her heritage. for Maggie, the quilts are valuable for everyday use. she appreciates that they are the work of grandma Dee and big Dee, who taught her to quilt. mama realizes that Maggie needs the quilts for practical, psychological and emotional reasons.

What is the conflict between Dee and Maggie over?

The conflict comes to a head from the juxtaposition of the characters’ motives for wanting various items: Mama and Maggie need these objects because they put them to “Everyday Use” and Dee in only interested in them so that she can show them off and put them on display.

What does Dee mean when she calls Maggie backward?

When Dee calls Maggie backward, she means that she is uneducated and ignorant whereas Dee herself is educated and knowledgeable. While she was away getting an education, Dee changed. She decided to name herself Wangero and became more interested in her cultural heritage.

Why do you think Mama is closer with Maggie than she is with Dee?

Why do you think Mama is closer with Maggie than she is with Dee? Mama is closer to Maggie because Maggie followed her mom’s foot steps. She was also living with her mother and she was passionate about using things for everyday use, unlike Dee who only used things for the purpose of art.