Alice Walker’s Characterization of Dee in the Short Story “Everyday Use”

Dee is the main character in the short story “Everyday Use,” written by Alice

Walker. Alice characterizes Dee as a young and struggling African- American. Dee is

blessed with a younger sister, Maggie, who envies Dee as an older, beautiful, and

powerful sister. Maggie sees her sister as a strong person but the truth is hidden in her

actions. In the short story “Everyday Use” Alice Walker characterizes Dee by what Dee

does, what Dee says, and what others say about Dee.

Dee is characterized by what she does. When Dee comes home from Augusta for

the first time, she steps out of the car and starts to take pictures. The pictures are of her

mother and Maggie along with a cow eating grass, she also makes sure to get their house

in the picture. She does this for a reason; she is hoping that when she goes back to school

and shows her friends the pictures, they will feel sorry for her considering how her family

is living. At the dinner table l...