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

In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” strong characterization is abundant throughout the main characters. The story contains three main characters with Dee exhibiting the most diverse characterization. In her short “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. First of all, when Dee arrives at the home where her mother and sister reside, she pulls out a Polaroid and begins taking pictures. As Dee snaps photographs left and right of her mother and sister, she makes sure to include the livestock as well as the entire house. Dee is able to prove how well educated she has become by degrading her own family with these pictures. Later, while Dee is inside, she goes around picking out items such as her mother’s butter churn, quilts, and other household luxuries she wants to take back with her. By taking these items, Dee, without any remorse, leaves her family without quilt...