Conflict Between Ways of Life in "Everyday Use"

Dray Yarbrough
English 1102
June 09, 2003
Conflict Between Ways of Life in “Everyday Use”
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, the story starts out with Dee getting whatever she wants, but by the end, Mother is irritated into a torrent when she rips the quilts from Dee’s arms and sets them in Maggie’s lap. This outburst is brought about by a contrast of lifestyles between Dee and Mother. Throughout the story, these two women are shown to be complete opposites. Mother’s love is strong, but her patience wears thin. Dee flaunts her education; she puts a greater value in money than Mother or Maggie, and she does not appreciate her history and heritage as Mother and Maggie do. Dee’s and Mother’s ways of life are too contrasting for them to agree.
Education is the first conflict which is shown at the beginning of the story. Mother daydreams of meeting up with Dee on a TV show. Mother sees herself well spoken, the way Dee wants her to be. Mother then say...