Everyday Use: Plot Analysis
Theme
The story centers around Mama’s relationship with her daughters and introduces topics such as heritage and education.
Mood
With Mama’s narration, the atmosphere feels homelike and detailed as she describes flashbacks to the reader and a clear perception of how well she claims to know both of her daughters.
Voice
Alice Walker gives Mama the power to narrate, control, and use language to convey her story and thoughts in her own way.
Tone
Overall the tone is perceived as instructive and personal, however, it changes as the story progresses.
External Conflicts:
Man Vs Man: We can see a conflict between Mama and Dee due to their different ways of seeing life, Dee sees living on a farm as a prehistoric thing while Mama just views her farm life as a normal day-to-day thing that they need to do in order to sustain themselves.
Man vs Society: Dee sees her actions and perspective as a way of going against prejudices while Maggie and Mama face these social conflicts that keep them from receiving education as Dee did.
Internal Conflict:
Man vs Itself: There is an internal conflict both in Mama and Dee; As Mama has to make a decision between her two daughters that involves family traditions and public recognition, Dee develops this feeling of hatred towards her heritage even though she doesn’t display it directly throughout the story.
Climax: We could say the highest point of the story is that when Dee comes home and asks for the quilts of the family she finds out that those quilts were originally for Maggie but she then claims that she doesn’t deserve them.
Resolution: Mama takes the quilts and hands them to Maggie, Dee then follows to criticize her actions and leaves her and Maggie alone for them to realize that she is incapable of fully appreciating the very meaningful history that the quilts represent.
New Ending
Maggie smiles, but this time Mama notices a genuine smile. She can see it in her eyes and in the dazzling pearls that highlight her face. Even if it may seem like a small victory, she values her traditions and heritage and is glad Mama does as well.
Suddenly a feeling of guilt invades Mama...How could she ever described Maggie as not that smart, unattractive, and scared when she has only been kind and good-hearted.
“Mama is proud of you.”
Maggie stops smiling, but she is rather filled with shock. It’s funny how a single moment can bring you a certain feeling of comfort, she feels worthy and appreciated, she feels at home.
By Daniela Yúnez and Valeria Villera, Step 11
