Everyday Use-Just My Opinion

Everyday Use was a short story that I wasn't really fond of. I found it's symbolisms hard to follow and felt that the story jumped around and left me wondering what was going on. I have to wonder if it hadn't been written by a famous author if it would have been tossed into the scrap pile. After reading it several times, I was able to understand that it was a story about family relationships and how they change over time and yet stay the same. It seems to be something that happens in every family where there are those that excel and those that stand by the road of life and hold a grudge about those that excel. Dee was someone that was born to chase her dreams and while her mother admired this about her, she also seemed to be jealous about it. Maggie on the other hand, was like a turtle that would never come out of its shell, and even after Dee was gone from the house, she still didn't strive to do anything with herself. Their mother was also content to sit on a chair in her dirt yard and sing church songs rather than to aspire to even learn how to read. She seemed to pride herself in the fact that she was as hard and strong as any man she knew.
The story also represents the past, present, and future and what is important to some is not important to others. Maggie took part in her families history by learning how to quilt and knowing the background of the homemade items. Dee however had been busy pursuing her dreams and had missed out on this chunk of her personal history even though she was in search of her roots as she shown by her mode of dress and new name.The quilts in the story were going to be used in two opposite ways, one to preserve them, and the other to use and enjoy them. While I would side with using them, I understand why others want to preserve such a family heirloom. My husband and I both have a quilt that each of our grandmothers made, and while I use mine because I feel it will never mean as much to anyone else, I wouldn't dare bring his out of its hiding place. I feel that his quilt will probably just lay in a wad and rot away. Both of us have different ways of looking at the same situation as do the characters in this story. As is so often true there are many different ways of looking at things and many different ways to live, and what is best for one is not always best for another.
I still would not care to read this short story again. I think that when something is read for entertainment it should be able to be easily understood the first time around instead of having to dissect it for its meanings.

The Dogs of War