Everyday Use by Alice Walker - Book Report/Review Example

It is curious to observe the number of literary elements that construct this story in the way we are welcome to appreciate it. Setting, imagery, characterization, symbols, context, and depicting details are considered to be the movers of this literary text. They create a general picture and provide a subjective understanding of the story while performing together. First and foremost, it should be admitted that the story is written from the first person, so the type of narration includes the reader into the story entirely.

The particular narrator is Mama and the readers have an opportunity to observe the situation created in the story from the mother’s point of view. This woman is considered to be a strong and experienced person with her own vision of the picture of the world. Still, she has lived all her life in the rural locality what makes her uneducated and offhand. Mama presents this information about herself and is not ashamed of it, she even names herself “large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands” (Walker, 315).

This person is seemed to be straightforward and earnest with the readers, which forces the audience to feel empathy for Mama. The images of daughters are remained to be created in two different dimensions. Maggie is shy and unconfident, a person who does not see more than her own yard. “Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to own a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to him? This is the way my Maggie walks” (Walker, 315).

The author provides an absolutely different description of her sister Dee. This is a smart and intelligent woman with modern views; still, we feel some irony in relation to her appearance, boyfriend, and behavior through the text. The characterization plays an essential part in our case, as all depicting details, beginning with setting and ending with the way the car drives away, involve the readers to the particular situation and present the story problems and arousing themes from the appropriate angle.

The symbols also represent great importance to the general picture of the story. Quilts appear as a connector between generations in their family. It is a part of the history and traditions that are needed to be respected and honored. Dee claims that her mother and sister do not understand the heritage, but it is clear for the readers that it is Dee who loses the identity and forgets who she is. All in all, we must admit that a number of literary elements are used to reveal the main idea of the story that is skillfully hidden in the root of the creation.

Depicting details, narration, images, context, and characterization are the engines for the development of the message that is enclosed in the “Everyday Use”.