In Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use", the theme of cultural heritage and identity is highlighted. The story follows the interactions between a mother, Mama, and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, as they navigate their relationships and shared history. The story explores the complexity of how individuals perceive and value their cultural roots, as well as the conflicts that can arise when these perceptions conflict. This essay will focus on analyzing the theme of cultural heritage and identity in "Everyday Use", exploring its implications for the formation of individual identity and family relationships. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The theme of cultural heritage is at the heart of “Everyday Use,” as characters grapple with their ties to their past and how they choose to express their cultural identity. Dee, who changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to reject what she considers her slave name, represents a modern, educated view of heritage that values ​​cultural artifacts as symbols of past struggles and triumphs. Dee's desire to display family quilts as works of art rather than using them in daily life reflects her belief that cultural heritage should be preserved and highlighted for its aesthetic and historical value. In contrast, Maggie and Mama represent a more traditional view of cultural heritage, where the value of these artifacts lies in their practical use and connection to family history. Maggie, described as shy and unassuming, wishes to inherit the quilts not because of their artistic value, but because of the memories and stories they contain. Mom, caught between the divergent points of view of her two daughters, struggles to manage her own relationship to her cultural heritage and the way it has shaped her identity. To support these arguments, it is important to incorporate evidence from credible sources that have analyzed the topic of cultural heritage in the literature. Scholarly articles and essays focusing on the intersection of culture, heritage, and identity in literary works can provide valuable insights into the complexities of this theme and its implications for individual and collective identities. By drawing on these sources, we can deepen our understanding of how cultural heritage shapes our self-esteem and our relationships with others. For example, in a scholarly article by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar titled "Heritage and Deracination in Walker's "Everyday Use," the authors explain how Dee's desire to hang the family quilts on her wall as works of art rather than to use them as Mama and Maggie intended symbolizes a disconnection from the true meaning and value of cultural heritage. This act of commodifying the quilts into art objects represents a superficial understanding of their meaning, highlighting the tensions between the different ones. perspectives on cultural heritage within the family Additionally, the theme of cultural heritage in “Everyday Use” also delves into the idea of ​​cultural appropriation and the ways in which individuals can selectively adopt aspects of their heritage. for personal purposes or for the construction of their identity Dee's rejection of her first name in favor of a name that she believes connects her to her African roots can be seen as a form of cultural appropriation, as she adopts. elements of a culture.