Everyday Use Quilts

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In the short story “Everyday Use” focuses on a mother-daughter bond and the mother who has been both mother and father to her two daughters. Mama is a poor and uneducated woman who was denied of an education, but she values her heritage and connection to her family. Maggie is the shy sister who lives in her sister’s shadow. Dee is the oldest daughter who has been successful, she changed her name to an African name and she did not value her heritage or had a clear understanding of it. Mama and Maggie connection between generations is strong, making quilts and keeping quilts is a symbol of their family’s legacy. The mother decided to wait in the yard for her daughter Dee and to come for a visit from college. The visit was nothing like Mama and Maggie had hoped. Dee attitude toward Mama and Maggie was negative. Because Dee was the most educated one in the house when she read to Mama and Maggie, she did not read for them to enjoy what she read, it was for Mama and Maggie to think that she is better than they are. Dee thought her home and her family was an embarrassment.…show more content…
After dinner, Dee wanted the quilts that her grandmother made for Maggie to show off her African heritage. Dee did not have any respect or have a clear understanding of the importance of those quilts that Mama and Maggie saved for years. The quilts are very important to Mama and Maggie because the understood that the quilts are made from the clothes for their loved ones during the time of the civil war. Dee had no value for the quilts Mama and Maggie kept as part of their family legacy. Dee wanted to hang those quilts on a wall for decorations in her house and Mama did not like the idea. When Dee asked for those homemade quilts, Mama said “no” and that was the first time Mama had ever told no to Dee. Mama told Dee that she had promised the quilts to Maggie and they are hers, but Dee said that Maggie will ruin them by using them every

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