In everyday life, symbols are encountered everywhere. Symbols can be used to identify colors, objects or people. It may have a different meaning than what it actually represents. For example, yellow can symbolize sunshine and happiness and black can symbolize sadness and isolation. Like in the Divergent book, each faction had a symbol that symbolized what they were. The symbol of the Dauntless represented bravery and strength while the Self-sacrifice represented peace and happiness. Symbols are everywhere and are very useful. In the short story, Mama Johnson, who lives a difficult life and has no man in her life, is the mother of Maggie and Dee. That being said, it gives mom the responsibility to play the role of both father and mother. Mama Johnson lives with her youngest daughter, Maggie, who is emotionally unstable and traumatized by her past events, the house fire. Throughout the novella, Mama and Maggie receive a letter from Dee announcing that she is coming to visit them. Once Dee arrives, everything automatically becomes uncomfortable. She acts like she doesn't remember where she grew up there her whole life. Dee starts asking for cleaning parts when she knows Mom uses them daily. Mom being the generous person that she is; she gives them to him. Later, Dee starts asking for quilts. Mom knows these quilts are for Maggie but Dee says Maggie won't like them. After all, Dee wants to use them as art, which shows that she doesn't appreciate her heritage. The story ends with Mom fighting back and giving the quilts to Maggie. Dee storms out of the house without saying goodbye to Maggie or Mom simply because Mom refused to give her the family quilts that were already rightfully reserved for Maggie. I...... middle of paper ......d no matter what. Works Cited Bmad, Nick. “Symbolism in Walker’s “Everyday Use.” » Enotes. Np July 4, 2007. Web March 17, 2014Eshbaugh, Ruth. "A Literary Analysis of Alice Walker's Short Story 'Everyday Use'." Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo, Inc., August 21, 2008. March 17, 2014Foleylan. “Conflict, Irony, and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use.” » Study mode. Np, June 2012. Web. March 17, 2014 Moore, Julie. “Heritage and Symbolism in Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’.” Yahoo! Voice. Yahoo, Inc., May 29, 2007. Web March 17, 2014 Spark Notes Publishers. “Themes, Motifs, and Symbols.” SparkNotes. Sparknotes LLC, nd, Web March 17, 2014Walker, Alice. “Daily use.” Heritage of American Literature Ed. James E. Miller. Flight. 2. Austin: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991. 714. Print.Write Work Editors. “Symbolism in “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. » Write a work. Np, May 2006. Web March 17 2014