I know we didn't get to cover this story in class, but I have to say it is one of my favorite short stories. One of the reasons I'm fond of it is that it is universal and can speak to many races as well as opposing generations. "Everyday Use" may be set in the rural black south, but it can be used to represent many things. The central theme from the story I always see is the importance of heritage. The sad part is this form of rustic hardworking lifestyle is almost all but forgotten except for family stories and photos. The importance of the blanket in the story shows that using what you are given by your family, your heritage will only mean something if you use it every day. It’s hard to try and put down in words what I mean exactly, but I believe I really get what Walker is trying to say. My closest friends are always joking about how the most important aspects of my life came from my childhood, and they’re right. I feel like I honor my grandparents by copying a lot of their country lifestyle, in the way I cook, speak, and interact with people etc. It’s how I let their memory live on with my family, instead of “putting a quilt up on a hanger for decoration”.
I know we didn't get to cover this story in class, but I have to say it is one of my favorite short stories. One of the reasons I'm fond of it is that it is universal and can speak to many races as well as opposing generations. "Everyday Use" may be set in the rural black south, but it can be used to represent many things. The central theme from the story I always see is the importance of heritage. The sad part is this form of rustic hardworking lifestyle is almost all but forgotten except for family stories and photos. The importance of the blanket in the story shows that using what you are given by your family, your heritage will only mean something if you use it every day. It’s hard to try and put down in words what I mean exactly, but I believe I really get what Walker is trying to say. My closest friends are always joking about how the most important aspects of my life came from my childhood, and they’re right. I feel like I honor my grandparents by copying a lot of their country lifestyle, in the way I cook, speak, and interact with people etc. It’s how I let their memory live on with my family, instead of “putting a quilt up on a hanger for decoration”.
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