In her late 20th century short story “Everyday Use,” African-American writer Alice Walker contrasts the struggle between the main characters involving the recurring theme. The story is set in a rural Georgia setting in the 1970s. The plot revolves around Mama, Maggie and Dee. Throughout the journey, heritage develops and remains a central theme that revolves around them. Each of these women in the Johnson family tries to stay true to the value of the heritage. But there are different hereditary roles for each woman, so their ways to achieve this mission are different. The story “Everyday Use” exemplifies the various understandings and uses of heritage through Mama, Maggie, and Dee. To highlight the theme of her heritage, Walker shows how the character Mama views Dee's name. Dee changes her name and her mother decides whether to use it or not. In all, Mom uses Dee and Wangero interchangeably. As David Cowart writes, Mrs. Johnson is confused and unable to accept the new name. He tries to have it both ways, referring to his daughter now by one name, now by the other. . . (Cowart 1 of 7). As the narrator, Mom uses the new or original name for a reason. Carol Andrews observes that Mother administers Wangero when she denies Dee's vision because unlike Dee she understands what the quilts represent. “He snatched the quilts from Miss Wangero's hands. . .” (“EU” qtd. in Andrews 3 of 4). Mom explains the connection of the name Dee with her ancestors. “You know as well as I do that you were named after your Aunt Dicie. . . I probably could have brought it back past the Civil War through the branches” (“EU” 89). Helga Hoel writes that her mother is amazed that Dee gave up her name, "because Dee was her great-grandfather's name... in the center of the card... the opposite view of him. Overall, Alice Walker uses the characters Mama, Maggie, and Dee to illustrate the various interpretations and customs of heritage. The eldest daughter, Maggie, emerges through the similar potential of her mother and the ability of tradition to live through her. However, universal influences cause Dee, the other daughter, to develop opposing views. The presence of conflicting opinions is manifested among the Johnson Per women dispel the opposition, Walker rightly places some opinions on a pedestal during the final scene Many criticize the effects of society and are based on the ideals that the story capitalizes on. The central idea suggests that Walker, an African American woman just like the main characters , struggled with the concepts herself.