Question
What are the differences between Mama Johnson and Dee in ‘Everyday Use’?
Answer
In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use,” Mama Johnson and her daughter Dee represent contrasting perspectives on cultural heritage and identity. Mama Johnson embodies a practical, lived connection to her heritage, while Dee represents a more superficial, aesthetic appreciation of cultural artifacts.
Mama Johnson
Practical and Grounded: Mama Johnson is depicted as a strong, hardworking woman who values her cultural heritage through everyday use and practical application. She maintains a deep connection to her roots and family traditions, which she expresses through her daily life and the preservation of family heirlooms for their intended use (Fonseka, 2024; Ulucan, 2024).
Submissive Yet Resilient: Despite her submissive lifestyle, influenced by societal oppression, Mama remains resilient and committed to her cultural identity. She appreciates the heritage that is embedded in the everyday objects around her, such as quilts and household items, which she intends to pass on to her daughter Maggie (Ulucan, 2024).
Dee
Educated and Worldly: Dee, in contrast, has received a formal education and developed a new awareness of African American rights and identity. She adopts a pan-African perspective, which she uses to assert her cultural identity in a more modern and fashionable way (Ulucan, 2024; Farrell, 1998).
Superficial Appreciation: Dee’s interest in her heritage is more aesthetic and superficial. She desires family heirlooms, like quilts, not for their practical use but as cultural artifacts to display, reflecting a shift from practical heritage to material culture (Fonseka, 2024; Ulucan, 2024).
Condescending and Manipulative: Dee is often perceived as condescending and manipulative, viewing her family’s lifestyle and values as outdated. Her approach to heritage is criticized for lacking depth and understanding, focusing more on style and appearance (Farrell, 1998).
Conclusion
Mama Johnson and Dee represent two divergent approaches to cultural heritage in “Everyday Use.” Mama values heritage through practical, everyday use, while Dee seeks to elevate it to a fashionable, aesthetic level. This contrast highlights the tension between traditional and modern interpretations of cultural identity.
References
Fonseka, E., 2024. Utilisation Versus Enshrinement: Sibling Conflict over Heritage in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” from an Anthropological Perspective. Universal Library of Arts and Humanities. https://doi.org/10.70315/uloap.ulahu.2024.0101007
Ulucan, Ö., 2024. A New Historicist Perspective on the Transformation in Perception of Cultural Heritage in Alice Walker’s Everyday Use. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1522013
Farrell, S., 1998. Fight vs. Flight: A Re-Evaluation of Dee in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”. Studies in short fiction, 35, pp. 179.
References
Walker, A. (2006). Everyday Use. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.
