The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker was written in first person. The narrator is the mother of the other two main characters, Dee and Maggie. The fact that this story is written in first person gives alot to the concept of the story. At the end of the story, in the question whether or not the narrator refrains from making judgements, I came to the conclusion that she does in fact make sound critical of her daughter's new lifestyle. "Why don't you do a dance around the ashes? I'd wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much." (Walker, 175). This quote clearly shows a little resentment in the emotions and personality of her daughter Dee.
Also, as I began reading this story, I thought of the "Prodigal Son" from the Bible. I thought that in the end the mother would just forgive Dee for leaving them for years and give her all she wanted. However, I was wrong. The ending was almost the exact opposite. It was not opposite in that she disowned Dee, but she did not give Dee all those articles and family heirlooms that she demanded to have. I felt very proud of the narrator for sticking up for Maggie, the forgotten daughter. The reader could also see a personality progression of Maggie by the end of the story, too. She was tired off not having a say and she finally stood up to Dee and said ,"She can have them, Mama," (Walker, 180).
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