In her story, "Everyday Use," Alice Walker is focusing on the importance and true value of culture in our society through the use of an African American family which consist of 2 daughters and their mother. Walker chooses two sisters to develop this point by acknowledging their difference in appearance, personalities and ideas about the family heirlooms, although these two siblings were raised in the same environment they turn out to be two completely unique individuals.
Maggie, the younger daughter, is not very attractive. She is thin and walks with her "chin on chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle". Maggie is of a darker complexion and has burn marks down her arms and legs. Homely is the best description of this sister as she carries herself with a sense of low self-esteem. In contrast Dee the older sister is very attractive with a fuller figure and nicer hair. She takes pride in her appearance by dressing fashionable. "At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was". Confident would be the best description of Dee.
Besides their appearance, Maggie and Dee have unique personalities. Maggie is first introduced as being nervous about her sister's visit. Maggie was not even able to confront Dee about wanting the quilts. She was so use to giving in to Dee she said "I can "member Grandma Dee without the quilts", just so Dee could have them. Unlike Maggie, Dee is a .
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bold young woman. Her mother said "She was determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts." She attended college in Augusta and used her knowledge to look down on her mother and sister treating them like dimwits.
The families heirlooms are important to both sisters, but for different reasons. Maggie values her grandmother's quilts for the sentiment and usefulness. Her grandmother and aunt, who made the quilts, taught her how to quilt. Their mother is saving the quilts for Maggie to use after she gets married.