Paper Topic:

Theme Essay

Theme Essay - Notes

Theme statement - that culture is lived , and not learned - essentially that a true understanding of one 's culture is obtained by actually living it , rather than finding out through other sources

The theme of the story is presented using characterization , mostly by contrasting the characters of Maggie and Dee

Maggie is shy , and quiet . She is not a thinker ' but she has an instinctive understanding of her culture and how culture , family , and memory are interwoven , even though she can 't articulate her thoughts Maggie `lives ' her culture

and family every day

Dee 's understanding of her culture is filtered through experiences that are not related to family . She believes she has lost her culture and has to fight to attain it

These different perceptions of culture are best viewed by examining the ways in which the two sisters see objects such as the quilts and the butter churn . Maggie sees them as items to use , and to remember her family by , whereas Dee sees them as objects to display and provide `proof ' of her cultural background

The conclusion is that culture is more than having possession of `cultural items ' - it is also having the memories and traditions that come along with them . Maggie 's instinctive understanding of culture is more complete than Dee 's , because Maggie realizes that the intangible aspects of culture (memories and traditions ) are more important than objects (she knows that even without the quilts , she still has memories and she considers the memories more important

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Everyday Use

Everyday Use by Alice Walker presents a study of culture through characterization and symbolism , contrasting the characters and attitudes of Dee and Maggie Johnson to reveal the theme of the story and show that culture is lived , not learned

Dee is beautiful , smart , and outgoing , and Maggie is her opposite in every way . Dee commands attention with every word and gesture , but Maggie walks chin on chest , eyes on ground , feet in shuffle (Walker as though she is afraid of being seen . Dee covets items such as the butter churn not because they are part of her life , but because they are part of her culture . Her inadequate understanding of her culture is revealed by her intent to put such items on display like museum exhibits , to prove to herself and others that she has a cultural heritage . Dee grows up ashamed of her family , leaves home , changes her name , and does not return until she wants something from them - she does not understand that her family is the true link to her culture . In contrast , Maggie stays in the family home , living with her culture and her family memories every day

Maggie learns about her culture from her family , but Dee learns only when she leaves home - she learns about her family 's culture from people who have had no exposure to it . For Dee , culture is something she has lost and must...

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