“Everyday Use” and Its Symbolism

“Everyday Use” and Its Symbolism


In the short story “Everyday Use” Alice Walker uses symbolism throughout the writing. The story takes place in the 1960’s or 1970’s, a time when African Americans were searching for their heritage. Alice Walker uses symbolism with her references to the quilts, the churn top that her uncle whittled, and with Maggie.

The quilts have a special meaning to Mama. When she moves up to touch the quilts, she is reaching out to touch the people whom the quilts represent. The quilts were “pieced by Grandma Dee and then Big Dee and me had hung them on the quilt frames on the front porch and quilted them” (323). The quilts are not however, the only device Walker uses to show Mama’s inherent understanding of heritage. Walker also uses the butter churn and dasher to show Mama’s connection with her family.

When Mama takes the dasher handle in her hands, she is touching the hands of all those who used it before her. Mama remember...