Conflict Essay

“Everyday Use”-Alice Walker

Alice Walker authored the short story entitled “Everyday use”. In this story we get a set of characters, round (Mama) and flat (quilt) and several supporting characters, like Hakim-a-barber. Walkers “Everyday Use” is set somewhere between 1960’s America right around the time the civil rights movement was taking place. The setting takes place at Mama’s house primarily with the exception of a flashback to their old house that burned down. The plot of the story reveals the characters cultural pride and ignorance towards the changing times. The themes in “Everyday Use” are, the meaning of heritage and the power of education. Additionally, the author creates different conflicts that arise throughout the story in which they are: man vs. man, man vs. society, and man vs. himself.

Man vs. Man is first seen between Dee and Mama due to the fact that Mama doesn’t meet up to Dee’s standards. This coincides with the theme, power of education. Mama struggled to send Dee to a good school, which could have ended up doing more harm than good in regards to their relationship. Mama herself was denied an education and her youngest daughter Maggie lacks in that department. Therefor, giving Dee the advantage of being the only one educated which makes her arrogant and condescending. The education that Mama generously gave to Dee only created a bigger wedge between them and the family. Dee with her knowledge and way of the world becomes a bit of a threat to the standards of Mama and Maggie. When Dee arrives back home with Hakim-a-barber she engulfs Mama and Maggie with her new found knowledge, making them feel like children. Even when Dee was a child, Mama says “She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.” (Walker, pg 279, par 11). Often Mama catches herself dreaming of those TV shows, “Then we are on stage and Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes. She pins on my dress a large orchid, even though she has told me once that she thinks orchids are tacky flowers” (Walker, pg 278-279, par 4). Mama’s fantasy of this grand reunion with Dee is opposite to the reality of what they share, and that troubles Mama.

During the 1960’s the Civil Rights movement was taking place in America. This inspired great changes for African Americans and the United States, along with the “Black is Beautiful” cultural movement that was also started in the 1960’s by African Americans. Man vs. Society is seen when you look at the affect it had mainly on Mama. For instance, she grows ignorant to the changing times and has become comfortable in her own quiet life. This was a pivotal moment for African Americans to stand up and show themselves for whom they really are. Her resistance and stubbornness to expand her horizon is due to the lack of education that has prohibited the chance for her to seek out the real world. For so long she has maintained a life of simplicity, a life in her own little world. Mama is resistant to change or to move forward because she doesn’t know how. Maggie and Mama have become settled with how their life is and have grown comfortable, unlike Dee who left to seek out the world and find herself. Maggie is also refrained due to education, although she knows a little more than Mama, her personality is too timid and weak to find herself in the real world like her sister, therefore she hides behind the comfort of her home.

The final conflict that is present during “Everyday Use” is Man vs. Himself. Although each of the three main characters undergoes a difficulty with oneself, it is strongly present with Dee. This conflict ties with the second theme, meaning of heritage, as Dee has gone out to seek a new heritage after rejecting her real heritage. Taking on the name of “Wangero” and wearing African clothing is all-apart of her trying to make a statement. She views the heritage that she grew up with as something that has died, or stuck in the past. With the ever so constant changes occurring, especially during the Civil Rights Movement, she feels that she must connect or as she states “re-connect” with her true heritage hence the changing of her name and appearance. When Dee comes back, she has her eye set on a quilt that Mama had originally promised to Maggie. Dee views the quilt as an artifact of her ancestor’s heritage, like a prized possession that should be kept for display instead of “everyday use”. Dee states “But they’re priceless!” (Walker, pg 282, par 68) as if she were to auction them off at a gallery. Mama refuses to give the quilt to Dee because Maggie will respect the quilt as part of her family’s heritage and will treat it as such. Dee so desperately wants to represent her African heritage despite the fact that she has very little understanding and knowledge for it. Since Dee is pro change, unlike Mama and Maggie, she knows what is happening outside of their home and decides to live with it, not against it. “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it”(Walker, pg 282, par 80) Dee says as she leaves Mama and Maggie behind.

“I will wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy yesterday afternoon.” (Walker, pg 278 par 1) mama says as she waits upon the arrival of Dee. Although there is no resolution of the conflicts, Mama and Maggie refer back to their yard soon after Dee leaves. Maggie smiles says mama, a real smile not a scarred smile, as the two of them sit there and enjoy the rest of the evening. Almost as if the yard is a place of comfort and safety where no one can impose anything on them and they can live inside their own little world.