Introduction
The story is told in first person by a mother who lives with her shy daughter, Maggie. Dee and her friend arrive dressed in brave, unfamiliar clothes. Dee informs that she has transformed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo because she cannot use the name of oppressors. This finding hurts her mother, who named her after a family member’s lineage. Thus, it is essential to examine the relationships between the mother and her two daughters and how this ultimately led to her final decision on the quilts.
Mom’s Relationship with Dee
Significantly, Mom and Dee’s relationship is conflicted because they perceive the family’s inheritance differently. For example, Dee wants to use the butter churn to turn it into a table. In the story, Dee says, “I can use the thick view as a centerpiece for the cover.” (Walker 5). In contrast, the mother and the other daughter appreciate the chute top and use it for its intended purpose. Meanwhile, Dee attempts to hide her origins and embrace the values and customs of most people.
Therefore, the girl asks for blankets and family relics to use as jewelry. When her mother does not agree to this and states that she has already promised them to Maggie, Dee emotionally blinks, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” (Walker 6). In this way, the girl demonstrates that Maggie and her mother’s values are no longer relevant, which is why she needs to adapt to the modern world. This further destroys her mother’s relationship with her mother and Dee. Dee also demonstrates a dismissive attitude toward the daily rituals of the family. The girl states, “She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.” (Walker 6). That is, Dee was trying to convince her mother this way that using Maggie’s blankets would be a relic of a time passed. Consequently, family relationships became strained because of Dee’s desire to forget her culture.
Relationship with Maggie
Mom and Maggie are united in their desire to develop the traditions and culture of their family. Maggie values family traditions and developing culture; unlike Dee, Maggie uses a butter churn to make butter (Walker 3). Hence, when the sisters claimed the quilt, her mother wanted to pass it on to her daughter, who appreciates their culture. Maggie does know how to quilt, along with that, Mom and Maggie cannot imagine “Grandma Dee without the quilts.” (Walker 7).
Grandma Dee taught Maggie how to whip, which is why Maggie is a living part of the legacy. Moreover, not only does Maggie use objects for their intended purpose, but she looks like an African-American woman. For instance, the girl wears traditional clothes and hairstyle and is not embarrassed about it (Walker 2). Therefore, Mom and Maggie’s relationship is based on a shared understanding of family values and culture.
Mom’s Final Decision
Mother wanted both daughters to appreciate and develop family traditions, but she gave the legacy to Maggie. This is because Dee only used the heirlooms for her pictures, and Maggie constantly perfected her knowledge of them (Walker 3). However, Mom tries to maintain a relationship with Dee and even calls her Vanegro. In this way, Mom wanted to keep the family together and demonstrate that disputes could be resolved peacefully (Walker 3). Mom’s final decision was made after an act of sacrifice on Mega’s part. The girl says, “I can ‘member Grandma Dee with the quilts” to her mother when she refuses them (Walker 7). This statement prompts her mother to take the carpets from Dee and give them to Maggie because Maggie understands their history and appreciates them more deeply than Dee does.
Conclusion
Thus, the quilts and other items are images of the traditions and culture of the family. Accordingly, the mother wanted her daughters to continue using them and preserve their ancestors’ memory. Dee treats her family members as curiosities, and Meggi tries to preserve the memory of her ancestors and develop their culture. Therefore, her mother decided to give the antiques to Maggie because she genuinely appreciates the family’s heritage.
Work Cited
Walker, Alice. Everyday Use. Rutgers University Press, 1994.