The Meaning Of Heritage In The Color Purple By Alice Walker

Many African-American quilts that were made after the Civil War and emancipation were made from scraps of clothing and other like materials. Born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia, Alice Walker grew up as the youngest sibling in a poor family. As a Civil Rights activist, Walker fought for the equality of all African-Americans. She is best known for her novel The Color Purple which was published in 1982. In 1973, she released the story collection In Love and Trouble which included the short story â€Å"Everyday Use.† Alice Walker’s â€Å"Everyday Use† displays the theme of the meaning of heritage through irony and symbolism. Walker uses irony, which results in conflict, to display that Dee has not grasped the true meaning of heritage. Dee had so badly†¦show more content†¦Dee is the one who does not understand her heritage. The quilts are used in the representation of what heritage means to Mama and Maggie versus Dee’s view of them. Mama describes that: â€Å"They had been pieced by Grandma Dee and then Big Dee and me had hung them on the quilt frames on the front porch and quilted them. †¦ In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrells Paisley shirts. And one teeny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezras uniform that he wore in the Civil War.† (Walker 495). These quilts have a deep attachment to Mama, as she had helped in the creation of these quilts. They symbolize the past and the memories that come with the past. Before Mama decides who gets the quilts she asks Dee â€Å"What would you do with them?† (496). Dee responds with â€Å"Hang them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Walker 496). This shows how Dee views the quilts and the other items as a fashion statement that should be put on display for others to see instead of memories of her heritage. When Mama realizes that Dee cannot appreciate the quilts like Maggie would â€Å"[She] did something [she] never had before: hugged Maggie to [her], the dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap.† (Walker 496). Mama would rather risk the quilts potentially being ruined by Maggie than to let them goShow MoreRelatedAlice Walker And Zora Neale Hurston875 Words   |  4 PagesAlice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston Both Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston are similar to having the same concept about black women to have a voice and being perspective. These two authors are phenomenal women who impacted on the southern hospitality roots. Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston comment on fear, avenge, and righteousness among African American women that are abuse of their power. 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