In the story Everyday Use, the author, Alice Walker, develops and transforms the attitude of the protagonist, Mama, adapting the way she sees her two daughters, Maggie and Dee . As one of the most significant characters in the story, Mother establishes the readers' perspective and point of view through her important role as narrator. The plot of the story revolves around the return of Mama's eldest daughter, Dee, as she is returning home from college in the city. At the beginning of the story, Walker gives readers the strong impression that Mother has a special fondness for her eldest daughter and a feeling of shame for the youngest, Maggie. But as the story reaches its climax and ultimately reaches its conclusion, Walker dramatically changes Mama's attitude towards both of her daughters, finally treating each girl as they truly deserve. Walker's character, Mama, gives readers insight into the thoughts and feelings of a traditional African American mother from the late 1960s to early 1970s. She watched her two daughters transform into two very different women as they grew from their teenage years. Mama's position in the story is that of a strong parental figure, who has taken on the role of both father and mother to her small family, and her character is a perfect example of Walker's "womanist" views ("Womanist" par 1). As the mother describes herself, she is clearly embarrassed by her outward appearance but is proud of her masculine strength. He also states with regret that he never attended school beyond the second grade, saying: “After the second grade the school was closed. Don't ask me why: in 1927 colors asked fewer questions than now" (Walker par 13). However this lack of education did not......middle of paper......daughters. Walker uses their grandmother's quilt as a piece of their family's past that brings out the girls' best and worst qualities. Once she finally sees Maggie's generous nature, compared to Dee's spoiled and arrogant nature, and her mother cannot bear to see her youngest daughter lose one of the few things that are only hers, due to her older sister's self-centeredness. As the tale comes to a close, the reader can finally feel at ease knowing Mama's appreciation for Maggie's kind heart and her merit in being able to keep a piece of their "legacy." Works Cited “Womanist.” About.com Women's History. About.com and Web. February 17, 2014.Walker, Alice. "Daily use." Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. Ed. Kennedy, XJ and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2010. 455-461. Press.