Everyday-use-for-your-grandmother

AnalysisoftheMainCharactersinEverydayUseCOMMENTONTHECHARACTEROFMRS.JOHNSONMrs.Johnson1.Physicalfeature2.Workingcondition3.Educationbackground4.AttitudetowardtheTVprograms5.Attitudetowardstrangewhiteman6.Attitudetowardtwodaughters7.Attitudetowardfamilyheritagephysicalpsychological1.Physicalfeature“InreallifeIamalarge,big-bonedwomanwithrough,manworkinghands…Myfatkeepsmehotinzeroweather.”(paragraph5)Iamthewaymydaughterwouldwantmetobe:ahundredpoundslighter,myskinlikeanuncookedbarleypancake.Myhairglistensinthehotbrightlights.(paragraph5)StrongMan-like2.Workingcondition“InreallifeIamalarge,big-bonedwomanwithrough,manworkinghands…Myfatkeepsmehotinzeroweather.”(paragraph5)“Icankillandcleanahogasmercilesslyasaman…Icanworkoutsideallday,breakingicetogetwaterforwashing…OnewinterIknockedabullcalfstraightinthebrainbetweentheeyeswithasledgehammerandhadthemeathunguptochillbeforenightfall.”(paragraph5)“Iwasalwaysbetterataman’sjob.IusedtolovetomilktillIwashookedinthesidein’49.”(paragraph13)•Independent•Self-reliant•Hard-working3.EducaionbackgroundIneverhadaneducationmyself.Aftersecondgradetheschoolwascloseddown.Don’taskmewhy:in1972coloredaskedfewerquestionsthantheydonow.(paragraph13)AruralworkingwomanWithlittleeducation4.AttitudetowardtheTVprogramsYou’venodoubtseenthoseTVshowswherethechildwhohasmade“madeit”isconfronted,asasurprise,byherownmotherandfather,totteringinweaklyfrombackstage.(Apleasantsurprise,ofcourse:whatwouldtheydoifparentandchildcameontheshowonlytocurseandinsulteachother?)(paragraph3)JohnnyCarsonSkepticalRealistic5.AttitudetowardwhitemanWhocaneverimaginemelookingastrangewhitemanintheeye?ItseemstomeIhavetalkedtothemalwayswithonefootraisedintheflight,withmyheadturnedinwhicheverwayisfarthestfromthem.”(paragraph6)FearofthemainstreamsocietyOppressedbythewhitepeople6.AttitudetowardtwodaughtersSometimesIcanstillheartheflamesandfeelMaggie’sarmsstickingtome,herhairsmokingandherdressfallingoffherinlittleblackpaperyflakes.Hereyesseemedstretchedopen,blazedopenbytheflamesreflectedinthem.AndDee.Iseeherstandingoffunderthesweetgumtreesheusedtodiggumoutof,alookofconcentrationonherfaceasshewatchedthelastdingygrayboardofthehousefallintowardthered-hotbrickchimney.Whydon’tyoudoadancearoundtheashes?I’dwantedtoaskher.Shehadhatedthehousethatmuch.(paragraph10)•IusedtothinkshehatedMaggie,too.Butthatwasbeforeweraisedthemoney,thechurchandme,tosendhertoAugustatoschool.(paragraph11)•Deewantednicethings.Ayelloworgandydresstoweartohergraduationfromhighschool;blackpumpstomatchagreensuitshe’dmadefromanoldsuitsomebodygaveme.(paragraph12)•“Iknowitmightsoundawkwardatfirst,”saidWangero.“Igetusedtoit,”Isaid.“Reamitoutagain.”Well,soonwegotthenameoutoftheway.(paragraph40、41、42)TolerantVirtuousLoveherchildren7.AttitudetowardfamilyheritageOnewasintheLoneStarpattern.TheotherwasWalkAroundtheMountain.InbothofthemwerescrapsofdressesGrandmaDeehadwornfiftyandmoreyearsago.BitsandpiecesofGrandpaJarrell’sPaisleyshirts.Andoneteenyfadedbluepieces,aboutthesizeofapennymatchbox,thatwasfromGreatGrandpaEzra’suniformthatheworeintheCivilWar.”(paragraph55)QuiltsTheprotectoroftraditionalcultureThekeeperofblacksisterhoodTHEANALYZEOFCHARACTER:DEEDeeandMaggiearetwosistersborninafamily-----theyarenewBlacks,undertheeffectofBlackcultureandWhitecultureTheyarefacethedilemmas-----whethertoseizetheopportunitytocommunicatewithwhitesortoconservetheirtraditionalculturePhysical“DeeislighterthanMaggie”“withnicerhairandafullfigure”“herfeetwerealwaysneat-looking,asifGodhimselfhadshapedthemwithacertainstyle”DeeismorebeautifulandwhitethanMaggie,andsheisconfidenttocommunicatewithwhitesEducationShewenttoschool,evencollege,soshegotagoodeducation,hadthechancetolearnwhitecultureandintegrateintowhitesociety.“atsixteenshehadastyleofherown,andknewwhatstylewas”“shereadtouswithoutpity…….burneduswithalotofknowledgewedidnotnecessarilytoknow”DeeisindifferentandbraveShelookedtheoldhouseburnindifferently“Shehadhatedthehousethatmuch”Theoldhouserepresentthepainoffamilyhistory.shewantstoabandonthepainblackhistory.Butsheisbrave,shecanloveapersonwithallherheart,andshecanmarriedamanwithoutherfamily’spermission.Sheisbravetopursuewhatshewant,soshepursuetoenterintothewhiteworld.Deeishypocrisy“adresssoloud,theyareyellowandorangesenoughtothrowbackthelightofthesun“Earingsgold”“hairstandsstraightuplikethewoodonasheep”shehadchangedhernameDeeintowangero,anAfricanname.Shecamebackhomewithhonor,althoughshehadacceptedwhiteculture,shestillwantstopursuetherootofblackculturelDeeisselfishShewantstogetthequiltbecauseshethinkitisherheritage,buttheyareMaggie’sheritagetoo.Deewantsthequiltbecausetheyhavevalueandaesthetic.shethinkMaggiedonotknowit.ShewouldhangthemifshegotthequiltshowthatDeerespectstraditionalculturesuperficially.Deeisstrugglingbetweentraditionandrealworld,sheisamarginalman,ontheonehandshedidnotintegrateintothewhitesociety,ontheotherhandhasabandonedtheoldideologyandcostumesoftheblackpeople.Inconclusion,Deestandingforonekindofpeopleinthatperiodthattheyhaveabandonedtheirhometownandoriginstopursueabette