Olsen tells of her Daughter’s quiet and backward demeanor, “She was not glib or quick in a world where glibness and quickness were easily confused with ability to learn” (293). Throughout this story there are insinuations that Emily is damaged goods. However, Emily eventually proves everyone is wrong when Emily performs her comedy routine and receives a standing ovation. The main theme of the story is parents must make sacrifices and often those sacrifices come at a price. It is also important to realize that even though the events that she endured as child has shaped her personality she is not incapable of possessing a gift.
3. What advantages does Cisneros see in being “the only daughter”? In being “only a daughter”? c. I believe that the advantages that Cisneros sees in being “the only daughter” is that she gets more along time since most of her siblings did not want to play with her due to her being a girl. The advantage she sees in being “only a daughter” would be that she had her destiny in finding a husband.
“This character has changed her given name. Dee Johnson, to the superficially more impressive Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo.”(Petry 21) Maggie is the quieter and shy type, and tends to stay at the shadow of her sister while learning how to quilt. “Also, in contrast to her sister, Maggie is selfless and able to put the needs of others above her own.”(Noe 222-223) In the beginning of the story, Maggie is envious of her sister. She is intimidated by Dee, but at the same time she very much admires her sister. “She thinks her sister held life always in the palm of her hand, and that “no” is a word the world never learned to say to her.”(Walker 423) Around Dee, Maggie is ashamed of the burns scars down her arms and legs, and walks funny ever since.
She dreams of being a famous, a star that everyone worships and treats with respect. That is the real Precious hidden behind of the vulgar comments her mother has put in her head. She wishes that she was light skinned, real skinny, and long hair; that’s how she imagines herself. Precious mother, Mary has issues of her own that were shown at the end of the film. Mary has not always been abusive to Precious and didn’t think so low of her.
“Back in the days when everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones just right”, (Bambara p. 456) the opening line shows us Sylvia’s mind set; she is a stubborn, self centered, feisty young lady. She (Sylvia) believes at her age that she knows everything and she can take on the world. She does not understand at this point the hardships that surround her, nor does she care. Life is just fine to her and everyone is just as they should be. When the mentor, Miss Moore, enters the picture, Sylvia is unimpressed to say the least.
Georgiana’s sister, Eliza, is also beautiful, but seems less sinister than the others in her family and their brother and mother are the cruelest of them. Out of everyone, the educated servant, Bessie, is the only one to show Jane any bit of kindness. There are many characters in the section but the main ones seem to be very aggressive. The relationships between the characters seem very easy to understand. Due to Mrs. Reed’s late husband and Jane’s uncle’s dying wish, Jane was to live with the Reeds with Mrs. Reed treating her as one of her own children.
People will like you more if they feel like they are more intelligent. Do things you would never think of doing, say things you would never think of saying, knock down barriers like morals and values that are blocking your way to becoming the perfect woman. Be pushy and arrogant. Make yourself the top priority. People will finally notice you, and that is all that matters.
The Two Worlds of Misunderstanding “Everyday Use” is a short story from Alice Walker that juxtaposes two opposing views on identity, heritage, and worth. Every generation chooses their way of life. Some progress and excel while others settle and become comfortable, knowingly or unknowingly deciding to live the life they were given. This story is about a mother and two daughters who struggle to accept the others’ decisions in life and what happens when the new clashes with the old. Though the story is of first person perspective, seen through the eyes of “Mama”, the daughter Dee is seen as brash and pompous.
Unfortunately, in the process of obtaining an education Dee abandons her family heritage replacing it with a new “modern” way of life. Mama tells the story of Dee’s visit to the family home from college. In “Everyday Use” the narrator, Mama, characterizes herself and her younger daughter, Maggie, as uneducated and ignorant; however, one will find although they did not obtain a college education like Mama’s older daughter Dee, Mama and Maggie are far more knowledgeable of their own heritage than Dee. Despite Dee’s college education, it becomes obvious that when it comes to family heritage she is the one who is ignorant not Mama and Maggie. As the narrator, Mama, describes herself it is evident she has low self esteem.
She seems like the doting wife, who loves taking care of her children and her husband. We also see she has a childish air about her, that most things do not concern her. The pattern between the three women is they all have been living off someone usually a father figure, and have never been independent for themselves. Every other conversation has her laughing off or shaking her hand like what ever trifle at the time does not mean anything. Because she has a carefree manner, she uses her feminism to attract things that she wants or to get out of trouble.