Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo is Dee’s new name. This in an attempt to live what she believes is her heritage while leaving the oppression and poverty behind, which actually has created a wedge between herself and the rest of her immediate family. Symbolism and the use of tangible items used every day bring Dees perception and her mother’s perception of heritage to places that are completely opposite of one another. The story takes place within an oppressed black family in the 1960’s during the Civil Rights movement when young blacks were searching to find themselves and their true African heritage. Mama, which is also the narrator, takes pride in sweeping the dirt in the yard which is referred to as an “extended living room only with a breeze and an ability to look up into the elm tree.” Mama states that she has “deliberately turned her back on her house” and describes it as “not having windows and a tin roof “and seems to be perfectly satisfied with these living conditions.
They are optimistic and flattering. In the last three, the observer begins to take a much more judgmental perspective. She begins to illustrate how the choices made early on have left the woman in a tragic, almost pathetic situation. The author does this by changing the point of view from her to I, making the overall attitude much more judgmental. Title x2: “Pathedy of Manners” is about a woman who seems to have a perfect life, but the woman is wrapped in society’s “pathedy” (pathetic tragedy) of manners (expectations), and is too concerned with what is expected of her.
The Johnson family was an African American family, made up of individuals who place their own personal values on African American history. Alice Walker uses elements such as the handmade quilt crafted by the Johnson girls’ grandmother to the characters of Mrs. Johnson and her two daughters in “Everyday Use” to reflect African American culture and family heritage, which is a major theme in the work. The quilt is a very important object in “Everyday Use” and is also used to reflect the theme. “This short story, as Christian explains, first articulates the metaphor of quilting to represent the creative legacy that African Americans have inherited from their maternal ancestors” (Whitsitt 309) The significance of the quilt is that Maggie and Dee’s Grandmother handmade it. The quilt can be seen as a memory of Grandma Dee, or as a symbol for black history.
Maya Angelou added to the Literary Canon Maya Angelou is an editor, performer, singer, filmmaker, dancer, educator, but one thing she does best is writing. Angelou, born April 4, 1928, has had many influences throughout her lifetime. She has been influenced by her hardships, writers, religion, and the African American community. Maya Angelou should be included in the literary canon because she is best known for her autobiographies, which involved her childhood and her early life experiences. Her autobiographies influenced many African Americans and specifically women.
Their desire for self-improvement was evident in their quest to be educated. Most were self-educated and they also sought economic autonomy. This was a significant difference between the black and white women of the antebellum era. The white women continued to be taken care of their husbands and family and continued with their comfortable lives; however the black women, survivors of slavery, out of the need for survival, drew strength from the horrific treatment they endured as slaves. The desire to become educated motivated the black women to learn to read, develop an understanding of the white woman’s culture, and work to support themselves as they developed skills that would prove to be invaluable.
Grandma Lynn is one of the more vibrant, vain and misunderstood characters within the novel, like her Daughter she portrays an air of selfishness (Relating back to her daughter leaving the family in a time of crisis) however she takes the role of the level-headed peacekeeper throughout her appearances in the Novel, from her arrival before Susie’s funeral to her departure. We also notice how she is a hardened person, unlike the rest of the family. Sebold represents her as a vain and self-conscious character, an alcoholic and above all she has a straight forward attitude. Sebold initially represents Grandma Lynn in the play as one of the more hardened characters, upon her arrival we already get an idea of the character as someone who is unaffected by personal crisis’s such as Susie’s death, even before her arrival the call between Abigail and Grandma Lynn helps to portray her hardened character, the way that she is blankly states that “She has to come because it’s Susies funeral” she doesn’t seem to show much emotion on her arrival and the way that she brings a more vibrant atmosphere into the solemn and sad house. Even on her arrival instead of confronting the issue of Susies death she orders for a “Stiff Drink”.
A Woman’s Duality By Maya Asfour Edna’s self reserved character and the propensity to mask her emotions had a lot to do with her mother’s death when she was at a very young age in addition to not being close to either of her sisters, and that all the girls she befriended happened to be of a self contained type. Edna decided to take her place as a married woman with dignity, thus sacrificing her needs to attain the demands of society. But even though she does not attend to her needs they exist inside of her, causing her to question and desire while her body does what others expect her to do. Madame’s Ratignolle compassionate gesture at the beach provokes Edna to realize that she was brought up to be a reserved woman. The gesture also inspires Edna to speak openly and freely and by doing so Edna feels intoxicated as if she tasted “the first breath of freedom” [VII Chopin].
Also, her mother does not like patty for who she is and just wants her to be exactly like her. Another example is, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. A girl like your age looking like you do”(75). As Patty hears this from her mother, Patty starts to have an internal conflict. She let’s her emotions get the best of her and feels anger and shame.
In the Episode of the Crabs, it’s clear that Waverly, like her mother, demands the very best. Waverly is, in a sense, Lindo’s selfish side unmitigated by filial duty or obligation. Waverly, like all of the other daughters in The Joy Luck Club, has a strained relationship with her mother. Waverly, as stated earlier, is independent and likes to assert her independence to her mom. She makes a show of not taking her mother’s advice by saying things like, "Don’t be so old-fashioned, Ma […].
She born as General Gabler’s daughter so she feels for a better destiny and imbues with romantic vision of making one’s own life a work of art. She could be imagined as distinguished, beautiful, proud and even in her defiance of her surroundings and in the gesture of her suicide. Hedda is pitiful because she is a tormented creature caught in an era that society imprisons women in limited choices, as a victim, in spite of her desperate to control the fate of others. With Hedda’s manipulative character, her desire of a “beautiful” death and her fear of scandal are the core characteristics that compels her to manipulate Lovborg in killing himself and leads herself to commit suicide. When Hedda first appears in the play, she is a cool character who has control of her emotions and actions.