Any story that begins with a mother fantasizing about reuniting with her daughter on a TV talk show is probably going to have something to tell us about family. Probably a lot to tell us, in fact. And yeah, if the family in "Everyday Use" appeared on Dr. Phil today, plenty of viewers would probably tune in. After all, this story has got sibling rivalry, mother-daughter drama, and a mysteriously absent father. As the narrator herself points out though, there's a lot that television wouldn't be able to show about the family members and their complex relationships to one another in this story (literature trumps TV yet again).
Questions About Family
- What role do you think the narrator played in creating or reinforcing Dee's sense of entitlement and Maggie's sense of hopelessness? Why hasn't she stood up to Dee until now?
- Why doesn't the narrator tell us more about her children's father (she refers to him only once in passing)?
- Why doesn't Dee express gratitude to her mother for helping her become someone who has, in her mother's words, "made it"? Does she have a responsibility to help her family since she's become a success?
- This family has obviously faced a ton of economic hardships. Have financial struggles brought them together or made their relationships more difficult?
Chew on This
"Everyday Use" is a cautionary tale for mothers who sacrifice themselves for their children.
"Everyday Use" presents a hopeful view of single-parent families.