The irony in Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use" lies in the clash between Dee's (formerly Maggie) desire to reclaim her heritage through exotic and distanced means and Mama's understanding of heritage as lived experience and practical tradition.
Dee, having adopted a more "African" identity, wants to display the family's heritage as artifacts, highlighting her connection to the past through aesthetic and symbolic objects. She sees the quilts as a symbol of her heritage, a way to connect to her past and to her African ancestry.
Mama, however, understands heritage as something lived and passed down through generations. She values the quilts for their practical use and their history of being used by women in her family. The quilts represent the hard work and resilience of her ancestors, and she intends to give them to Maggie, who will use them and carry on the tradition.
The irony lies in the fact that Dee, who has distanced herself from her rural upbringing, wants to claim her heritage through these objects, while Mama, who has lived and embodied that heritage, sees it as something lived and used.
Dee's appropriation of her heritage, while well-intentioned, ultimately fails to grasp the true meaning of heritage. Mama, on the other hand, embodies the true spirit of heritage by recognizing its practical and generational significance.
Examples of irony in the story:
- Dee's new name, "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo," is a deliberate attempt to reclaim her African heritage. However, it ironically distances her from her family and her rural roots.
- Dee's desire to display the quilts as artifacts, rather than use them, reflects her aestheticization of her heritage.
- Mama's statement, "You know as well as I do that Maggie would use them," highlights the practical understanding of heritage that Mama embodies.
Practical Insights:
- This story offers a powerful commentary on the complexities of identity and the ways in which people claim and understand their heritage.
- It also raises questions about the role of material objects in shaping our understanding of the past.
- The story encourages us to consider the true meaning of heritage and to appreciate the lived experiences that shape our identities.
