The point of view in the story “Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker plays a big part. Throughout the story, one of Mama’s daughters came to visit. The way Mama and Maggie see her is not in a very pleasant way. In fact, they are scared to tell her no when it comes to anything. From Mama’s perspective Dee seems like this rude, stuck up, spoiled child because she had the opportunity to go out and expand her education, while Mama and Maggie continued to live their lives on the farm. On the other hand, if the point of view was switched to Dee, the way the reader views her, has a possibility of changing. Throughout the story, the speaker, which is Mama, is recalling when Dee came to visit. When the point of view of the story changes and is then told
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Despite the fact that narrative perspective is generally considered a fundamental element in narrative comprehension, its effect on how we get immersed into reading, identify with fictional characters, and how much we like the story remains unclear,” (How narrative perspective influences reading). According to this statement, the point of view determines a lot for characters. This is why switching from telling the story from Mama’s point of view to Dee’s or Maggie’s point of view would make such a difference. Dee comes off a little harsh in some parts of the story. For example towards the end of the story when Mama tells her no for the first time, Dee leaves and says, “Your heritage,’ she said, and then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, ‘You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it,’” (7). Now that is how it happens from Mama’s point of view. Now imagine if we hear the story from Dee’s point of view. Knowing Dee has risen out of poverty and ventured out to get an education, maybe she sees things differently, which is why she responds the way she does. Dee’s …show more content…
When you look at it from Dee’s point of few she just seems to be pushing her family to expand their education and have a better life. Dee doesn’t want her family on a farm and raising cattle because that isn’t what she likes. She has an open mind about things and sees them as more than just what they are used for, hence the title, “Everyday Use.” Dee may seem like a rude, spoiled girl, but looking at it from her perspective, all she wants is for her family to live the way she does. Changing the point of view from Mama to Dee would make a major difference. Looking at the story with Dee telling it would allow access to her thoughts so that the reader can understand why she is the way she is. It would allow the reader to access the deeper meaning to certain actions she takes and why she says the things she says. The point of view in a story determines so much for the reader including their feelings towards a certain character, in this case,
Despite the fact that narrative perspective is generally considered a fundamental element in narrative comprehension, its effect on how we get immersed into reading, identify with fictional characters, and how much we like the story remains unclear,” (How narrative perspective influences reading). According to this statement, the point of view determines a lot for characters. This is why switching from telling the story from Mama’s point of view to Dee’s or Maggie’s point of view would make such a difference. Dee comes off a little harsh in some parts of the story. For example towards the end of the story when Mama tells her no for the first time, Dee leaves and says, “Your heritage,’ she said, and then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, ‘You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it,’” (7). Now that is how it happens from Mama’s point of view. Now imagine if we hear the story from Dee’s point of view. Knowing Dee has risen out of poverty and ventured out to get an education, maybe she sees things differently, which is why she responds the way she does. Dee’s …show more content…
When you look at it from Dee’s point of few she just seems to be pushing her family to expand their education and have a better life. Dee doesn’t want her family on a farm and raising cattle because that isn’t what she likes. She has an open mind about things and sees them as more than just what they are used for, hence the title, “Everyday Use.” Dee may seem like a rude, spoiled girl, but looking at it from her perspective, all she wants is for her family to live the way she does. Changing the point of view from Mama to Dee would make a major difference. Looking at the story with Dee telling it would allow access to her thoughts so that the reader can understand why she is the way she is. It would allow the reader to access the deeper meaning to certain actions she takes and why she says the things she says. The point of view in a story determines so much for the reader including their feelings towards a certain character, in this case,