Alice Walkers 1955 and Everyday Use: Artificial vs. Genuine

Table of Contents

Introduction
Common Theme: Artificial vs. Genuine
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Alice Walker is a writer who focuses her stories on the place of women of color in American society. In her works, the author raises themes of life of the African American community in the country, race, racism, as well as those of culture, heritage, and belonging. This essay will examine Walkers stories 1955 and Everyday Use and discuss a common theme of artificial vs. genuine in the American culture.

Common Theme: Artificial vs. Genuine

In Everyday Use, the author narrates a story of one family reunion from the perspective of the matriarch only known as Mama. The protagonist lives together with her younger daughter Maggie and is anxiously awaiting to reunite and reconcile with her daughter Dee (Walker). During their reunion, both Mama notices that Dee did not change her opinion of her family but has developed a superficial appreciation of her familys possessions, specifically those that belonged to her grandmother (Walker). The story ends with Dee claiming Mama does not understand their heritage and leaves the family home (Walker). Despite a tumultuous ending to the long-awaited reunion, both Mama and Maggie enjoy the rest of their evening together.

Although the storys primary theme is family conflict, the theme of artificial vs. genuine is apparent in Dees and Mamas and Maggies attitude towards their heritage. Dee, who despised her family and earlier refused to take the quilts because they were old-fashioned, now craves them to show her belonging to the African American culture. She claims that her sister cannot appreciate the quilts, whereas Maggie states that she does not need the quilts to remember her grandmother (Walker). The attitude of the two women towards the quilts illustrates their appreciation of their heritage. Dee wants to hang the quilts on the wall and display her heritage when it suits her, but for Maggie and Mama, their heritage is a part of them and something they live with every day.

In 1955, the author raises the same theme of artificial vs. genuine by depicting two musicians attitudes towards fame and the music they perform. Gracie is a musician who was never appreciated by the wider public but who enjoys her life and the music she used to make (Walker 5). Meanwhile, Traynor is a famous singer who buys the rights to her songs from Gracie and finds enormous success from performing them but struggles to understand the meaning behind them (Walker 7). The story depicts the exploitation of black musicians whose songs found success when performed by white artists. Traynor is adored by the public, despite not having written his songs and struggling to understand them, which he discloses to Gracie. In comparison, Gracie is scarcely known, with her songs believed to be Traynors original compositions but is happy with her place in life. This portrayal of the publics reaction to the same songs and the singers appreciation of the music Walker exposes the triumph of the artificial over genuine in the American culture.

Conclusion

The two short stories by Alice Walker show two different situations from the same thematic perspective: artificial vs. genuine. In Everyday Use, Dees interest in her heritage is false as she wants to show other people her legacy but does not acknowledge it the way her mother and sister do. In 1955, Traynor is the epitome of a manufactured artist, not having written his songs but adored by the public for them. Overall, in both stories, the genuine characters are depicted as far happier and content with their place in life than those who feign their interest in their heritage and art.