discuss the use of symbolism

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Symbolism in Everyday Use and Araby

Everyday Use ' is a symbolic representation of Black movement of 1960s but it does not manifest the Afro-American quest for socio-cultural identity like other Black Movement literature . It symbolizes the conflict that existed within the Afro-American community in a simple way and also presents life in relation to modern and traditional concept of Afro-American heritage

The central conflict is symbolized by two main characters Mrs . Johnson and Dee . Dee is an epitome

of shallow materialism and an adherent of prevailing concept of heritage where heritage is revered only for trendiness and aesthetic attraction whereas Mrs . Johnson admires heritage for its practical utility and personal importance Piedmont-Mortob is of the view that central conflict is between Maggie and Dee and is about whether heritage exists in things or in spirit or process ' Dee 's longing for heritage is for ostentatious reasons Contemporary periodical necessities make her cherish and celebrate her Afro-American heritage . Dee views her heritage as an artifact which she can possess and appreciate from a distance instead of as a process in which she is always intimately involved (Piedmont-Marton ) But Mrs Johnson and Maggie have learnt to live with their heritage . Dee is captivated by the beauty of churn top ' and wanted to have it to be used as centerpiece for her alcove table whereas Mrs . Johnson has used it practically for churn butter hitherto . Walker utilizes the butter churn to demonstrate Mrs . Johnson 's intrinsic understanding of heritage

When [Dee] finished wrapping the dasher the handle stuck out . I took it for a moment in my hands . You didn 't even have to look close to see where hands pushing the dasher up and down to make butter had left a kind of sink in the wood . In fact , there were a lot of small sinks you could see where thumbs and fingers had sunk into the wood . It was a beautiful light yellow wood , from a tree that grew in the yard where Big Dee and Stash had lived (Walker , Everyday Use ' 412

Alice Walker has introduced various other symbols and figurative language to communicate some thematic expressions . The conflict of heritage becomes more evident as well as critical as the quilts are brought in the story . Piedmont-Marton asserts that

Quilting symbolizes the process out of which the unimportant and meaningless may be transformed into the valued and useful . Walker finds this metaphor especially useful for describing African-American women 's lives , which traditional history and literature have often ignored and misrepresented (Piedmont-Marton

The development of Dee into Wangero shows various facets and phases through which black identity passed during late 1960s and 1970s Predilection for appearance as compared with spirit remained hallmark of this era and this trend is manifested through Dee 's transformation into Wangero . Dee 's new name , her costume , and her new boyfriend (or husband ) are all indicative of her frivolous attitude toward her newly adopted African culture (White ) Overall...