"Everyday Use" By: Alice Walker

In this story, the mother makes a dynamic change when at the end of the story, she chooses to stand up for Maggie and refuse Dee's demand. The mother's refusal to allow Dee to have the quilts marks a permanent change in her character. I believe this because she realizes that it is Maggie who truly loves her and understands her and her heritage, not Dee. I believe she had never done anything like this before because she always dreamed that her and Dee could eventually relate in some way. For example, on page 174 (second paragraph) she has the dream that one day she and Dee will go on a talk show and have an embrace in which they will both cry. These are all just hopeful wishing because she knows deep down that her and Dee have nothing in common. I believe she finally stands up to Dee because she realizes that she does not really care about her or Maggie and their heritage. She only cares about her appearance and what she believes to be "heritage." I also believe she realizes how important Maggie really is in her life and this is shown by the little side comments of how Maggie kindly offers that Dee can have the quilts and the way in which Maggie carries herself when she realizes Dee will get what she was promised. There are a few events in the story that foreshadow the mother's refusal to Dee. For instance, on page 180, paragraph 71 the mother asks what Dee would do with the quilts and italicizes you showing that whatever it is that Dee would do with the quilts would be odd and absurd.