The Differences Between Dee and Maggie in Everyday Use by Alice Walker Essay Example

walks,” (Par. 8). The reader gets a sense that Maggie is not as alluring as Dee due to the negative connotations placed on her description and the strong diction that is used regarding her appearance. Education, an important aspect, is described completely different. The narrator describes Maggie as not being very bright, "She stumbles along good-naturedly but can't see well. She knows she is not bright,” (Par. 12). In contrast, Maggie is not an academically educated woman. Due to her sight problems Maggie did not continue in her education. Dee is described as a rather intelligent woman. Dee is illustrated to be the complete opposite of Maggie, “But that was before we raised the money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school," (Par. 10). In comparison to Maggie, Dee is considered to be more active in her education. It is evident that both characters are on completely opposite sides in their personality spectrums. Dee is evidently extroverted. Throughout the short story Dee is portrayed as having the world at her feet, “She thinks her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that ‘no' is a word the world never learned to say to her,” (Par. 2). Dee expects the world and everyone in it to eat out of her hand.

In Maggie's eyes Dee has gotten everything she has desired, but on the other hand Maggie has rarely gotten what she has wanted. Maggie is rather shy as well as timid when it comes to being around other people, "'Aunt Dee's first husband whittled the dash,' said Maggie so low you almost couldn't hear her,” (Par. 28). Maggie

does not speak very often in the short story, but the little dialogue that she does have is muttered. "Everyday Use" emphasizes the differences between Dee and Maggie in the aspects of their physical appearance, education, and personalities. Although heritage is meant to help connect and create strong family ties, it does not always occur. Each generation perceives their heritage differently and these differences can create an estrangement between family members. Although dissimilarities can create distance in families it can also create a distinction between what the readers' beliefs on how to express their heritage appropriately. Heritage does not always bring people closer, but allows for differences to emerge.