Why is Mama the protagonist in everyday use?

Mama, the narrator and protagonist can be considered a dynamic character. This is because at the start of the story she gives into everything that Dee wants; however, by the end of the story she stands her ground and does not let Dee take the old quilts.

What is the conflict between Maggie and Dee?

The conflict comes to a head from the juxtaposition of the characters’ motives for wanting various items: Mama and Maggie need these objects because they put them to “Everyday Use” and Dee in only interested in them so that she can show them off and put them on display.

Does Mama regret giving Maggie the quilts?

By giving the quilts to Maggie, Mama in a sense merely fulfills her promise. Mama had previously offered Dee a quilt, years earlier, but the offer had been rejected since quilts at that time were out of style. Maggie’s appreciation of the quilts has been long and consistent and will remain so.

What do the quilts symbolize to Maggie?

The quilts serve as a testament to a family’s history of pride and struggle. With the limitations that poverty and lack of education placed on her life, Mama considers her personal history one of her few treasures. Her house contains the handicrafts of her extended family.

What does heritage mean to Maggie in everyday use?

Maggie’s concept of her heritage is personal, she learned how to quilt from her grandmother and she has an important connection in making the quilts a piece of her heritage and the quilts mean a lot to her because of the people they represent. Dee does not have a personal connection with the quilts.

What does heritage mean?

Heritage is a person’s unique, inherited sense of family identity: the values, traditions, culture, and artifacts handed down by previous generations. Some families define their heritage primarily as their ethnic, cultural, or national identity.

How is Dee selfish in everyday use?

Dee is a very selfish individual. When Dee finds out that the quilts were already given to her sister, Dee gets furious and believes that she deserves the quilts more than Maggie and that Maggie would not take care of them as well as she would (94). Poor Maggie says to her mother “She can have them Mama…

Who is Maggie in everyday use?

Maggie. The shy, retiring daughter who lives with Mama. Burned in a house fire as a young girl, Maggie lacks confidence and shuffles when she walks, often fleeing or hanging in the background when there are other people around, unable to make eye contact. She is good-hearted, kind, and dutiful.

How does Maggie view heritage?

In contrast, Maggie genuinely appreciates the quilts and views them as living objects, which represent her family’s rich heritage. The quilts symbolically represent their family’s complex heritage and are traditional items that celebrate their legacy.