Three Different Strong Women

Women in a family can be very different we see this in the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker. Walker describes each woman uniquely at the beginning of the story, she starts with the mother/narrator by stating:  "In real life I am a large big boned woman with rough, man-working hands.... I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; .... one winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledge hammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall" (p5). This shows the tough life this woman has experienced she has had to struggle and do the man and woman's job in her family.  On the other hand  Dee who is eldest daughter is described as a young beautiful woman who is given gifts that any woman of color would want "Dee is lighter than Maggie, with nicer hair and a fuller figure" (p10). At another point in the story she gives a description of Dee's feet "her feet were always neat-looking, as if God himself had shaped them" (p16).  The tone set by this woman is one of superiority and she runs this family for sure. The description suggests that everyone has given into her wants. The youngest daughter Maggie's character is different, she is shy and has experienced great challenges, "She has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle, ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground" (p9). The reader has a clear picture of these three women and as the story unfolds we see how their characters evolve, After a fire that changes their lives forever they raise funds to send Dee to college and one day she visits her family, she has changed her name and is more greedy and spoiled around her mother and sister. "Mama can I have these old quilts ?" (p59) At this point in the story the narrator is aware of the selfishness of this daughter. "I promised those quilts to Maggie for when she marries John Thomas" (p65), Maggie's character will not fight for the quilts, or engage in conflict, Walker describes the response that the mother has when she says "When I looked at her (Dee) its like something hit me on top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet" (p76). She took a much needed stand for Maggie at this point in the story. The reader becomes aware of a change and a strength that is passed onto Maggie that she will carry with her always. In the end of the story as her older sister was leaving Maggie smiled "a real smile, not scared" (p81). These women are forever changed by the events of the story. Maggie has a new confidence and a mother that appreciates her and Dee gets knocked down a few pegs. Walker does a brilliant job of the description of characters in this story.