The short story “Everyday Use”, written by Alice Walker, is about an African-American mother and her two daughters. The story evolves around one daughter, Dee, coming back home to visit her family. As one is introduced to the characters in “Everyday Use”, it becomes apparent that the two sisters, Maggie and Dee, are very different. Maggie is portrayed as a homely and ignorant girl, while Dee is portrayed as a beautiful and educated woman. The …showed first 75 words of 1391 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1391 total…things can fill holes in one’s life. Alice Walker uses Dee to show that neither name changes, nor lifestyle changes can accurately represent a culture. You are born into your culture, and everything you do reflects your heritage. Heritage is a person’s undeniable past that they carry with them everyday. As Alice Walker shows, when you deny your heritage, as Dee has, it is hard to get back in touch with your roots.