Everyday Use

The story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is about an African American family –mother and her two daughters. One of the daughters whose name is Maggie is very shy and quite. We do not know why, perhaps I believe it may have something to do with the accident she was in when the house went on fire and left her with severe burns. She lives with her mother. The second daughter Dee is perfect in the eyes of her mother (the story is being told by her). She got the looks, the personality, and the brain. The mother describes herself as more of a manly type. She has no education and does manly jobs as well. It seems like the mother likes Dee more than Maggie. Both girls are getting married soon and Dee wanted the quilts that her mother had. Unfortunately for her those quilts were promised to her sister Maggie. After a slight argument mother took the guilt’s and gave it to Maggie right after hugging her. This was the first time she had hugged her.
Why did Dee wanted the quilts so much. Was it because she has changed so much that she wanted to have something remind her of her heritage? Maggie showed a strong side of herself at the end. She wasn’t shy or scared anymore. Maybe because for the first time her mother came to her defense and showed that she is too her daughter.