Question

How does Dee’s perspective on the family’s possessions compare to the rest of her family’s? (Everyday use by Alice Walker)

Answer 1

The correct answer is the following.

Dee has changed her name as symbolism to a different heritage that the rest of her family. Her new name is Wangero. Dee considers that she is better than the rest of her family. Dee’s mother resents the way Dee has treated her and Maggie. The behavior of Dee has changed and is mean and selfish. That is the reason why it is very difficult to get along with her. Of course, Dee’s changes are not accepted by her mother and family members.  

Answer 2

Dee is a more educated individual than the rest of her family (her sister Maggie and her mother). She has been exposed to more varied experiences and different types of people. This leads her to think of her cultural background and her legacy in a different way than the way her mother and sister think about it. When Dee looks at her grandmother's quilts, she sees a piece of culture and a testament of her family's legacy. Therefore, she thinks of them as something precious that cannot be used everyday. However, Maggie sees them as something that her grandmother made for them to use. She sees them as a comforting and familiar piece that is not meant to be preserved, but is meant to be used and enjoyed. The mother agrees with Maggie's view and struggles to connect with the more worldly Dee.