Riley Walters October 26, 2014 “Everyday Use” Character Analysis The Character of Mama in “Everyday Use” Mama, the narrator of Alice Walker’s story, “Everyday Use,” is a strong, loving mother who is sometimes threatened and burdened by her daughters, Dee and Maggie. Gentle and stern, her inner monologue offers us a glimpse of the limits of a mother’s unconditional love. Mama is brutally honest and often critical in her assessment of both Dee and Maggie. She harshly describes shy, withering Maggie’s limitations, and Dee provokes an even more pointed evaluation. Mama resents the education, sophistication, and air of superiority that Dee has acquired over the years.
From this, the reader can gain a sense of her ignorance. Her primary concern was her appearance and personal state which made her the most out of place of all her sisters. Other hints at her materialistic flaws were when her "precious toiletries" were replaced by more practical things. This disgusted her as she didn't know how she could live without these possessions. This behavior was normal in white America, however when she was placed in an obscure
She is in her on fantasy land. Events that unfold throughout the story show us just how unstable she actually was. Miss Emily acted against everything the towns people were trying to do. They wanted a mailbox attached to the house, and she refused. The consent complaints about her house smelling of odor.
She makes characters and puts them in situations that tell her message that human beings are trapped in their selfish worlds. In “a good man is hard to find” O’Connor teaches by negative example. The grandmother is too selfish to notice God’s presence at all times, but she dwells on the bad. In the story all of the characters, most obviously the Grandmother, are concerned only with their own wants and desires. The family has no real connection or love up until they come across the Misfit and his gang of murderers.
No one can be trusted. Brigid is a great example of someone that especially cannot be trusted. In the beginning of the book she goes through many different allies and stories of why she needs Spade's help. She even knows of her untrustworthy habits and warns Spade to not trust her. The best example of deceit in the book is when Spade has Brigid arrested in the end.
The hatred would not let him pick her up” (163). In this mistreatment of his daughter, Cholly continues a common cycle of outsiders in society by creating another outsider in order to make him feel better about himself. As
Furthermore, John refuses to acknowledge anything pertaining to her mental state which causes her to become angry with him. As her obsession of the yellow wallpaper grows deeper, so also does her insanity; although in this case her anger seems “perfectly understandable” (Schumaker 594). Moreover she begins to harbor animosity and resentment towards her husband because of his refusal to listen to her. John’s love for the narrator is never questioned, but his stark ignorance to the situation is undeniable. As the story continues the narrator constantly studies the wallpaper, and begins to believe that there is a woman trapped behind it.
The boy was “certainly tweaked at an angle” and thus is expected to be violent. This further removes his sense of belonging with the remainder of his community. Similarly, the character of Cecilia from The Virgin Suicides suffers mental issues thus disallowing an understanding of the remaining sister’s characters to be made. “Do we seem as crazy as everyone thinks? … Cecilia was weird but we’re not.” The subject “we” enhances the community’s perception of the sisters as a whole.
Sentences ans sections of poems are repeated which gives the impression of Hinley slowly losing her mind throughout the poem. Duffy uses language very effectively, in parts of the poem almost creating a sense of sympathy for Hinley at the same time as making her seem evil. When reading the poem Duffy’s opinion of Hinley is hard to understand. She seems to sympathies with Hinley in some areas of the poem however in other areas the poem emphasises how evil Hinley is. During the first stanza Duffy creates the impression that anyone could become a murderer and this creates the impression that she seems interested in Hinley especially since it is stereotypically men who commit crimes like the Moors Murders .
She wonders things that have happened that she herself caused. Like when she does not grasp right away that the yellow stain and the “smootch” are connected. Nor does she connect that the problem with the lady in the wallpaper is her own problem. Matter of fact she even scoffs at the ladies attempts to escape and is going to “tie her