The irony in the short story "Everyday Use" is that Dee
tries to escape her true heritage for one she knows little about. Dee has changed her
name that had been in the family for years. Dee is now Wangero, an African name. She has
left behind her precious heritage and embraced a new identity. She wears African clothes
and African jewelry. She wants to rid herself of her oppressors. She feels that any
attachment to her true heritage is to be reminded of her oppressors. Ironically, Dee
longs for the quilts to keep as an heirloom. She is not as detached as she may think or
pretend to be.
The quilts symbolize the bond that has been
passed on through the generations. Mama respects this bond and embraces her heritage as
a proud Southern black woman. The quilts were made by family members and passed down
through the generations. The quilts are symbolic of family ties and the deep cultural
traditions of strong black women like Mama. This story captures the legacy that Dee is
trying to forget:
“Everyday Use” focuses on the bonds between
women of different generations and their enduring legacy, as symbolized in the quilts
they fashion together. This connection between generations is strong, yet Dee’s arrival
and lack of understanding of her history shows that those bonds are vulnerable as
well.
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