WALKER Does Alice Walker believe that the “Everyday Use” of the old quilts is protecting or destroying tradition? Remember from the Introduction that we are told that Alice Walker resembles each of the characters in her narrative.
“Everyday use” can be used a metaphor for how African American cultured is practised in every day life and how it is reflected in all coloured house holds. Today in America, lots of people, families and businesses exchange and interact with other cultures. For example, “Taco Bell”, a traditionally Mexican cuisine franchised across America. The ethical debate is whether this is sharing and respecting different cultures or ‘westernising’ traditions enabling them to be more applicable in American Society?
Maggie represents the traditional roots of culture, as she lives with her family and therefore has very strong cultural and familial beliefs. Contrastingly, Dee represents western society and values, such as materialism, as she went to college and lives away from home. Walker can relate to both these characters as she left home to excel her career however, she still remembers and practises her culture.
Dee wants the Quilts that have been created and patched by members of her family for generations. The quilts are a metaphor for African American Culture and history; Walker utilises this metaphor to highlight the intangible gifts that come with the quilt, as they come with knowledge and a story to share allowing the preservation of tradition.
Dee wants to hang them on her wall. This can be perceived as perhaps a flag or a statement honouring her traditions, or it is hung as a trophy idolising a culture that once was; hanging it up to be fashionable. However, Walker contrasts that against her sister who would “use” them. Here, Maggie would be fulfilling the intended reason they were created, by using the quilts Maggie is interacting with the culture in the present modern day.
Walker uses the juxtaposition of the two sisters to depict how the ‘every day use’ of the quilts is maintaining and practising tradition in the modern day, which highlights the loss of traditional culture in America today.
Victoria Martin's Literature Blog 
Hi Victoria,
I really enjoyed reading your Blog, I liked how you answered and explained the question briefly within the first lines of your Blog. I appreciated how you provided a modern-day example to further explain the concepts you are discussing as it allowed me to grasp these ideas properly and accurately understand what you are trying to discuss. Again, you do this by comparing different characters and their views whilst providing evidence to support your ideas, thus portraying a clear depiction of Walker and therefore showing your answer to the provided question, again shown through the explanation of the metaphor of the quilt. Your ideas were clear and I really enjoyed reading your blog.
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Dear Victoria
A very insightful entry about Alice Walker’s narrative. In your analysis, you successfully highlight the key ideas of ‘everyday use’ in relation to African American culture and tradition. The Direct contrast between the two characters of ‘Maggie’ and ‘Dee’, to create a deeper meaning in the readers perspective. I commend you for highlighting the traditional factors that ultimately act as the baseline to Walker’s central theme. However, I would have liked it if you had gone further with your analysis, you toughed on gat points, but with further exploration and evidence, should have elevated your response. Jumping from one point to the next, I suggest you put the ideas in dot points, or under subheading to help keep the reader engaged with your main discussion point. A couple of grammar suggestions, nothing major.
house holds’ – ‘households’
‘traditionally Mexican’ – traditional
‘excel her career however’- ‘;however’
‘sister who’ – ‘who,’
Overall such a great blog
Regards
Rawan
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Hi Victoria,
I thoroughly enjoyed your take on what Alice Walker was trying to represent in her poem ‘Everyday Use”. I absolutely agree that the quilts are a metaphor for African-American culture, however, it can also be representative of all cultures, for example, native American culture. Walker is looking at the westernization and appropriation of native cultures through this poem, which you have addressed above.
Keep up the great work.
Bruno
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