Alice Walker and Everyday use :: essays research papers

February ninth 1944, it was a dark and stormy night well possibly non. Regardless of the weather this is the date of Alice Walkers birth in Eatonton Georgia. Born to the sharecroppers Willie downwind and Minnie Grant Walker, who had already been blessed (cursed) with seven children, Alice was their ogdoadh and final hatful of joy. She led a fairly normal animation till she was eight years old and her elder brother accidentally (or was it?) shot her in the eye with a BB gun. This unfortunate incident caused Alice to lose the use of unrivalled eye. An interesting by product of this event was that she ended up with superstar blue eye and one brown eye. An excellent student, Alice graduated valedictorian of her class and then in 1965 she graduated from the Sarah Lawrence collage for women with a bachelor of Art degree.During the 1960s Alice was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1967 Alice married a white human rights lawyer, Mel Leventnal. In 1969 the happy, soc ially arguable couple were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Rebecca. A year later Alice create her first novel she was twenty-six years old. But alas, bliss does not last forever, she divorced in 1977. Although, this low point in her life did not keep her from writing. In 1983 she won the Putzler Prize for her novel The colour in Purple.Cultural inheritance was important to Alice Walker. This is shown repeatedly through out her storey Every Day Use. Much of Alices own life and hereditary pattern can be seen in this excellent example of cultural compliment and knowledge. She illustrates quite well that objects cannot define ones culture nor heritage, only attitude, experience, and an understanding of the ult can tell where a person comes from.Dees interest in her heritage can only be described as a sacking fad. Only the monetary value of the things she wishes to take mean anything to her. She does not defy the skills to use the churn top nor make quilts, such as the ones milliampere wishes to give to Maggie. Mama and Maggie have, cherish and use these skills every day, using their heritage. Dee does not see the practical uses of the churn top and the quilts she sees dollar signs and a develop in social status. She knows virtually nothing of the families past and doesnt real care.