Everyday Use

Kelsey Austin English 104

Dee the Very Self Confident Woman.

In Alice Walkers “Every Day Use”

In “Every Day Use” Walker introduces us to a family with a variety of different characters. Among the characters is Mrs. Johnson, her two daughters Maggie and Dee and two men who will marry her daughters; John Thomas and Asalamalakim. We see that Mrs. Johnson has many “man like” qualities’ and takes on many male jobs. She seems very excited but nervous upon the arrival of her daughter he is returning home after years of being away at school and several other places. Walker goes on to explain that Dee seems to be a well envied woman in her family, her sense of humor, style, education and desire for family air looms shows that Dee is a very confident but self-centered woman.

Dee’s style and way of dressing shows that she is an attention driven woman. Her outfit on the day of the visit is a very long flowing dress, she has large gold earrings that dangle to her shoulders and on her wrists she wears bracelets that make loud noises when she moves her arms; Her hair is said to stand straight up and have to pig tails that hand behind. This outfit is not to be worn by a shy person but by a person who likes to bring upon attention to them.

When Dee arrives at home she immediately starts to take pictures of the run down home and grazing cows in front of the home. She then proceeds to greet her mother and sister, clearly this is an action that should have been done immediately upon arrival. Mrs. Johnson proceeds to have a discussion with Dee when she is stopped and told that “Dee is dead” and that she now goes by the name “ Wangero Leeewanika Kemanjo” and then proceeds to carry out a conversation with Asalamalakim her assumed husband(9), completely dismissing her mother’s feelings about the name...