What Is The Theme Of Everyday Use CommonLit? Little do most readers and even the educators know, there are two sides of the coin when it comes to comprehension and assessment of a piece of literature: the text and its underlying-based work.
“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is one such story that makes one ponder a lot. This article will take a look at the details and theme of this remarkable short story.
Overview of Everyday Use
“Everyday Use” is a short story written by American author Alice Walker. The story touches on issues of culture, identity, and the tension between traditional and contemporary society.
It takes place in a rural southern setting amidst an African American family who finds themselves with different views about their heritage and its importance in their lives.
Plot Summary
It is a narrated story by a well-known black woman known as Mama who is described as a quite large and sturdy woman.
They live with a young sibling Maggie, and one of the children makes more visits from her other sibling Dee, who is more uptight and academic in nature.
The main issue in the entire story, as all focal points, revolves around Dee’s love for the ornamental, embracing her wish to take away objects, including such family treasures as quilts. Mama and Maggie perceive the items as everyday usage.
The Theme Of Everyday Use CommonLit
In order to appreciate the question ‘What Is The Theme Of Everyday Use CommonLit?,’ we shall look within the literature for information to support our ability to understand and encompass the baser themes of the story. The thematic issues captured in the story include the following.
Heritage and Identity
Another central theme expected from any short story is the notion of heritage. This perspective braids Mama’s and Maggie’s otherwise separate views on heritage.
In this story, Dee sees rather clothing and ornaments intended to be demonstrated and gazed at, not used. At the same time, Mama and Maggie operate within their lived heritage.
Key Points
- Dee’s Perspective: Dee respects the quilts that Mama and Maggie use, Dee will ask them to take care of and offer these as souvenirs representing black culture, but does not have any attachment to these.
- Mama and Maggie’s Perspective: They understand these artifacts in the context of their family history and as tools, depicting a more realistic story of the heritage upholding in practice.
Family and Conflict
Stereotypes associated with one’s family can be very difficult to overcome as it has been in the case of the theme ‘What Is The Theme Of Everyday Use CommonLit?‘. The conflict between Dee and her crumpled family is also well-developed and different cultural ideologies and desires are presented.
Key Points
- Return to Dee: Conflict is created by Dee’s visit trying to impose her new identity and beliefs onto the family instead of respecting their traditions.
- Mama and Maggie’s Relationship: Mama and Maggie’s close relationship is in stark contrast with Dee’s rather strained relations with the family.
Tradition vs. Modernity
Another big theme of the work includes the confrontation of opposite concepts which are modernity and tradition. Modernity and the wish to cut off from the past is represented by Dee, in her desire to change her name, whilst the latter two are along more cultural lines and practices.
Key Points
- Dee’s Modernity: Her new personality and the education that she receives are sufficient enough to differentiate her from the traditional ways she had known while in her family.
- Mama and Maggie’s Tradition: They still practice and hold dear age-old customs and see them as useful in the sustenance of their self-identity.
Analyzing the Quilts
The quilts are a prevailing motif through which the themes of the story are articulated. The quilts signify the family history and the different narratives of that history.
The Importance of Quilts
| Perspective | Significance |
|---|---|
| Dee | Uses quilts as a decorative display |
| Mama & Maggie | Regards the quilts themselves as functional objects and stories |
Quilts’ Coverings
- Made of used garments and bits of cloth the family used, representing the family and its hardships.
- Dee’s Request: Dee places on the quilts purely because of their beauty and not for practical purposes.
- Mama’s Decision: For every quilt that Mama happened to have, she felt because of Mama’s respect for Maggie’s paintings, it should be given to her.
Different character and value contrasts present in the work lead us toward the understanding of how differently people treat their history.
Relevance and Reflection
Grasping assists one in comprehending and appreciating Walker’s narrative artistry such that one is likely to change their own perception in regard to history and individual identity.
Such stories are lessons regarding the need of appreciating and recognizing one’s heritage in the individual and group settings.
Conclusion
In summary, “What Is The Theme Of Everyday Use CommonLit?” asks the readers to look into more serious topics of identity, family relations, and importance of heritage.
These elements have also given us an insight into the masterful narrative techniques used by the author, as well as the themes of global concern that she raises in her works.
