The story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker is a story in which several characters experience marginalization. In my opinion, the definition of marginalization is the structure or space that is victim to being left out of the norm or core component of whatever it is being related to. I see a marginalized person or character as an individual who is the outsider of the group. Examples of marginalization are seen in both real life and in stories as was witnessed in "Everyday Use.".
The first example of marginalization in "Everyday Use" that I noticed was the fact that Maggie had been marginalized in general life through the different examples of tragedies that were presented to us throughout the story which had taken place in her life. As a young girl, Maggie was burned in a house fire very badly. The fire left her body scarred and her confidence shaken. This example of bad luck seemed to be the often trend throughout the story for Maggie's life. While reading the story, it was almost as if Walker gave the reader the feeling that if something unfair were going to happen, it would more than likely happen to Maggie's character. I believe that Walker did make Maggie's character marginalized on purpose due to the emphasis that she placed on the misfortunes of that character. .
The next example of marginalization in the story that I found was the fact that Maggie and Momma marginalized Dee. Dee was Momma's daughter as well as Maggie's sister who had taken every opportunity to better herself in life. Maggie and Momma were both perfectly content being who they were in life. Neither one had any desire to move on in life and become more successful. Dee tried to explain to Maggie that the times had changed and that there were chances available for her to make something out of her life. I believe it was for the reason that Dee had decided to make something of her life that Maggie and Momma marginalized her from themselves.