Literary Analysis: The Importance of Heritage in "Everyday Use" understand his heritage. The Johnson family embodies the conflicts and struggles of African-American families to maintain their culture and values. The story involves Dee, an educated girl who visits her mother, Mrs. Johnson, and Dee's sister, Maggie. Walker's use of character conflicts and symbols illustrates the importance and disappearance of the perception of heritage in modern times. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Symbols of Heritage Walker uses symbolism to show Mrs. Johnson and Dee's different views of heritage. Even if both come from the same socio-cultural background, their motivations and their understanding of heritage are different. In one scenario, Dee admires a churn and asks her mother if she can have it. She says, "I can use the churn tray as a centerpiece for the alcove table...and I'll think of something artistic to do with the dasher." (p.31). It is clear that Dee cherishes this tool and identifies it as part of her heritage, but her plan to use it as the centerpiece of her alcove table is contrary to the views of Mrs. Johnson, who uses it as a tool to churn the butter. The top of the churn is a symbol of Mrs. Johnson and Dee's different perceptions of heritage. Walker's use of symbolism is evident when Dee walks through her mother's truck and comes out with two quilts. The quilts were made from different scrolls carried by their loved ones since the Civil War. Dee borrows the quilts, but Mrs. Johnson reminds her of her promise to leave them with Maggie and instead offers Dee other quilts. Dee insists and says, "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts... She'd probably be backward enough to use them every day." (p.130). Dee tells Mrs. Johnson that she plans to hang the quilts on the wall. This implies that Dee's perception of heritage is that it is artistic and tangible. Maggie tells Mrs. Johnson to give the quilts to Dee, stating that she can "remember Grandma Dee without the quilts" (p. 131). It becomes apparent to Mrs. Johnson that Maggie truly values their heritage, and her knowledge of quilt knitting affirms that she understands that heritage is made up of knowledge and memories, not tangible objects. Character Conflict Finally, Walker uses character conflict to show the differences in how Mrs. Johnson and Maggie understand heritage and how Dee perceives it. Mrs. Johnson is described as “a tall, muscular woman with rough, industrious hands” (p. 11). She is a hardworking woman and proud of her efforts on the farm. Likewise, Maggie works hard, having learned to knit quilts from Grandma Dee's teachings. Mrs. Johnson notices that Maggie's eyes “seem open, blazing with flames” (p. 25) – a reference to the burns that affected her early in her childhood. Mrs. Johnson understands that Maggie's legacy is tied to the burning house and that her scars are part of it. It is evident that Mrs. Johnson and Maggie are both self-reliant and in touch with their traditions. Dee, on the other hand, is completely disconnected from her heritage. She changes her name to try to identify with her African origins of which she knows nothing. Additionally, the fact that Dee simply observed the house as it burned to the ground could suggest that she, 9.

Essay / Literary Analysis: The Importance of Heritage in "Everyday Use" understand his heritage. The Johnson family embodies the conflicts and struggles of African-American families to maintain their culture and values. The story involves Dee, an educated girl who visits her mother, Mrs. Johnson, and Dee's sister, Maggie. Walker's use of character conflicts and symbols illustrates the importance and disappearance of the perception of heritage in modern times. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Symbols of Heritage Walker uses symbolism to show Mrs. Johnson and Dee's different views of heritage. Even if both come from the same socio-cultural background, their motivations and their understanding of heritage are different. In one scenario, Dee admires a churn and asks her mother if she can have it. She says, "I can use the churn tray as a centerpiece for the alcove table...and I'll think of something artistic to do with the dasher." (p.31). It is clear that Dee cherishes this tool and identifies it as part of her heritage, but her plan to use it as the centerpiece of her alcove table is contrary to the views of Mrs. Johnson, who uses it as a tool to churn the butter. The top of the churn is a symbol of Mrs. Johnson and Dee's different perceptions of heritage. Walker's use of symbolism is evident when Dee walks through her mother's truck and comes out with two quilts. The quilts were made from different scrolls carried by their loved ones since the Civil War. Dee borrows the quilts, but Mrs. Johnson reminds her of her promise to leave them with Maggie and instead offers Dee other quilts. Dee insists and says, "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts... She'd probably be backward enough to use them every day." (p.130). Dee tells Mrs. Johnson that she plans to hang the quilts on the wall. This implies that Dee's perception of heritage is that it is artistic and tangible. Maggie tells Mrs. Johnson to give the quilts to Dee, stating that she can "remember Grandma Dee without the quilts" (p. 131). It becomes apparent to Mrs. Johnson that Maggie truly values their heritage, and her knowledge of quilt knitting affirms that she understands that heritage is made up of knowledge and memories, not tangible objects. Character Conflict Finally, Walker uses character conflict to show the differences in how Mrs. Johnson and Maggie understand heritage and how Dee perceives it. Mrs. Johnson is described as “a tall, muscular woman with rough, industrious hands” (p. 11). She is a hardworking woman and proud of her efforts on the farm. Likewise, Maggie works hard, having learned to knit quilts from Grandma Dee's teachings. Mrs. Johnson notices that Maggie's eyes “seem open, blazing with flames” (p. 25) – a reference to the burns that affected her early in her childhood. Mrs. Johnson understands that Maggie's legacy is tied to the burning house and that her scars are part of it. It is evident that Mrs. Johnson and Maggie are both self-reliant and in touch with their traditions. Dee, on the other hand, is completely disconnected from her heritage. She changes her name to try to identify with her African origins of which she knows nothing. Additionally, the fact that Dee simply observed the house as it burned to the ground could suggest that she, 9.

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