“Heritage”In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker tells the story of the conflicted relationship between a mother and her two daughters based on identity and ancestry. Mom, the narrator of the story, describes herself as a strong, close-knit woman, sometimes burdened by her daughters Dee and Maggie. Mother's internal monologue demonstrates how slowly she moved away from her older daughter's external values ​​to approve of her younger daughter's internal values. The story focuses on the bonds between the three women and their lasting legacy, symbolized in the quilts they each designed together. This bond between generations remains strong until Mom's eldest daughter, Dee, comes to visit after being away for some time. Dee's arrival and lack of understanding of her history creates conflict, after she disrupts the true meaning of the family legacy for her own desires. When Maggie suggests giving the quilt to her older sister, Mom begins to see Maggie in a different light. Walker uses Maggie and Dee to suggest that legacy has a deeper meaning. Dee and Maggie are as different as hot and cold, but unlike Maggie, Dee has a much more superficial idea of ​​legacy. He brings shame and turmoil among his family members, but as an individual he searches for personal meaning and a stronger sense of self. Mother describes Dee as self-centered, but intelligent and beautiful, who believes she is in control of her life. “He read to us mercilessly; forcing the words, lies, habits of others... ignorant under his voice. He washed us in a river of make-believe” (Walker 477). Names are extremely important in representing a person's cultural heritage and show their spirit. Dee, bound by her altruism, rejects her culture by changing...... middle of paper ......found By rejecting her origins, Wangero has become the product of the soil in which she is planted. He thinks that traditions are archaic and no longer relevant, and that they are no longer necessary in these modern times. “You just don't understand... Your legacy... It's truly a new day for us. But you would never know it from the way you and mother still live” (Walker 482). But for Maggie and Mama, exploring their cultural heritage is very beneficial. It gives them a connection with their social values, beliefs, customs and religion. Just as Wangero rejected her family, so they rejected her. Mom sees the legacy in the quilts and believes Wangero has overlooked everything she stood for. Instead, Mom turns to Maggie and hands her the quilts. Maggie has shown that she respects and recognizes the family's culture and understands that her heritage has profound meaning.