In Alice Walker's story "Everyday Use", the theme of cultural heritage and identity is very present. The story follows the interactions between a mother, Mama, and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, as they navigate their relationships with each other and their shared history. The story delves into the complexity of how individuals perceive and value their cultural roots and the conflicts that can arise when these perceptions collide. This essay will focus on analyzing the topic of cultural heritage and identity in "everyday use", exploring its implications for individual identity formation and family relationships. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The theme of cultural heritage is central to “Everyday Use,” as the characters grapple with their connections to their past and how they do so. choose to express their cultural identity. Dee, who changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to reject what she sees as her slave name, represents a modern, cultured view of heritage that values ​​cultural artifacts as symbols of past struggles and triumphs. Dee's desire to display family quilts as works of art rather than using them in everyday life reflects her belief that cultural heritage should be preserved and showcased for its aesthetic and historical value. In contrast, Maggie and Mama represent a more traditional view of cultural heritage, where the value of these artifacts lies in their practical use and connection to family history. Maggie, described as shy and unassuming, wishes to inherit the quilts not for their artistic value, but for the memories and stories they hold. The mother, caught between the different perspectives of her two daughters, struggles to manage her relationship with her cultural heritage and the ways in which it has shaped her identity. To support these arguments, it is important to incorporate evidence from credible sources who have analyzed the topic of cultural heritage in the literature. Academic articles and essays that focus on the intersection of culture, heritage, and identity in literary works can provide valuable insights into the complexity of this topic and its implications for individual and collective identities. By drawing on these sources, we can deepen our understanding of the ways in which cultural heritage shapes our sense of self and our relationships with others. For example, in a scholarly article by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar titled "Heritage and Deracination in Walker's 'Everyday Use,'" the authors discuss how Dee's desire to take the family quilts to hang on the wall as works of art rather than using them as Mama and Maggie intended symbolizes a disconnection from the true meaning and value of cultural heritage. This act of commodifying the quilts as art objects represents a superficial understanding of their meaning, highlighting the tensions between different perspectives on cultural heritage within the family. Additionally, the theme of cultural heritage in “Everyday Use” also delves into the idea of ​​cultural appropriation. and the ways in which individuals may selectively embrace aspects of their heritage for personal gain or identity construction. Dee's rejection of her given name in favor of a name that she believes connects her to her African roots can be seen as a form of cultural appropriation, as she adopts elements of a culture that she may not fully understand or embody. This aspect of the story raises important questions.