Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” is a point of view story from the mother of two daughters who have reached their own adulthood. The daughters Dee and Maggie are as different as can be, with a strong willed forceful mother who has more in common with her older daughter than with her younger daughter. And while it can be argued that Maggie, as the physically damaged daughter may be slow, or even retarded, it is clear that Maggie is in fact none of these things. Maggie is not a hidden person in the story. Searching, and reading between the lines Maggie is actually the strongest of the three women. She has learned through grief and trauma that she can still be happy. Even if it’s not in the way that her own mother and a well favored sister believes her life should be. Maggie has an impending marriage, and understands the reality of family and memory. Maggie knows her memories are her own, and that not even the wonderful educated sister can take these things from her.
Maggie’s humor and knowledge is simply earthier than even her mother’s sharp wits. She often makes a noise that to her mother sounds like “Uhnnnh” and it can indeed be seen as a sign of a mind not catching up, the sound can also be seen as one of amusement. A long drawn out “uhhh huhhhh” is often used when the listener is skeptical of or amused by the base motives of the speaker. When the new man in Wangero’s life expresses what is his own subtle statement that the name “Dee” was given to the family by slavery, saying “‘ Well, there you are.” (Walker) Maggie is amused by the idea not because she is supportive of slavery, but simply because she is amused with the focus on the wrong issues. When the newly self-created Wangero gets ready to leave she tells her younger sister that “‘you ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it.'” (Walker) To the statement itself, Maggie has no reaction. However, when Wangero”put on some sunglasses that hid everything above the tip of her nose and chin” (Walker) Maggie appears amused. The mother assumes Maggie is amused by the sunglasses themselves, however it’s more likely Maggie is amused by her sister telling her to come out and become more than the person she’s been raised to be, and yet Wangero herself is putting on sunglasses and blocking the reality of her by camouflaging her real self.
We also know that Maggie is indeed aware of her surroundings. Intense shyness is often seen as stupidity. These days, the shy child is often encouraged by teachers and parents to “come out of their shell”, however, in the time of the story, the education of the black female was still going through rigorous changes in accessibility and Maggie was clearly missed by any local Head Start programs.
An incident recalled by her mother when Maggie asks “Mama, when did Dee ever have any friends?” Implied here, is that Maggie herself, damaged as she was, did indeed have her own friends. And Maggie realizes that Dee’s basic inherent selfishness keeps her from creating any lasting meaningful friendships. Dee flits from one boy to the next based on how much she impresses him with her looks, talents and most of all, her wonderful new education. And while Maggie is nervous around strangers, as shown when the new man in Dee’s life tries to hug her, she is sweaty and perspiring and draws back from the man. However, since this is a stranger in her life and more than that, a stranger who defies every class of man she has before met in her life, it is understandable that she would not want anyone unknown touching her in such an intimate way. Maggie has her own personally defined boundaries and touching from anyone not family is clearly not acceptable to her.
Unlike her sister, Maggie also recognizes different values for the items around her. While Dee sees the butter churn as decorative, Maggie sees the churn as a functioning needed part of the house. She says nothing about the churn at all however but
when the subject of the quilts comes up, instead of confronting her mother and Dee, she simply leaves the area and slams a door. This is not unusual passive aggressive behavior developed by those who live with strong people. And they are often effective. Maggie’s mother after hearing the door slam draws conclusions that for once, are correct. Maggie may not say much, her mother recognizes that Dee, the favored daughter, doesn’t necessarily deserve everything or the best simply because she is less damaged than Maggie is.
Maggie doesn’t lash out in anger or greed as her sister does, but she makes her voice heard even if it is in the passive aggressive way that she has learned works best with her strong minded mother and talented self assured sister. While her mother may not be educated herself, she was intelligent enough not only to raise a daughter with serious physical injuries, but she raised and sent a daughter to college at a time when the education of the black woman was still in its infancy. And as a result, she has raised Dee to become a self assured independent woman and raised Maggie to become an oppressively shy individual. Yet, at the same time Maggie has depths that Dee and really her own mother do not have and one hope that within her marriage she become more able to express herself.
