Paper one

Ariel Solis

English 201

February 26, 2012

In the story “Everyday Use," by Alice Walker there are many different concepts of the psychoanalytic theory in character Maggie, Dee, and Mama, who happens to be the narrator. We discovered how their characterization and childhood experiences mold who they are now. We also see how they interact with other characters and how that as well has to do with things that have happened in the past, and how these events still affect them now. As human we all have concepts of psychoanalytic theory in our lives.

As Mama being the narrator in this short story, she happens to tell the story from her perspective. In doing so she shows fear of intimacy in her personality. She quotes, “I did something I never done before, hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her to my room” (Walker7). For Mama to say that she has never hugged her daughter before is a little ironic. This scene displays fear of intimacy because it shows how distanced she is emotionally from Maggie.

In the fifth paragraph mama talks about herself, in a certain way which we can tell she has characteristics of low self esteem. She remarks, “I am a large big boned Woman with rough, man working hands” (Walker1). A person with high self esteem would describe their self with positive words and characteristics. Although she might be telling the truth about her appearance, there are different ways to describe you without lowering yourself, and that’s what mama did in this scene.

Dee is very interesting character. She is very blunt and outspoken person but with all of these qualities she does not speak upon the issues, which bother her, the most. One concept that suits her best is avoidance. This family has been through a lot in the past, and the way Dee copes with it is by avoiding it and trying to leave things in the past. She is ashamed of her family. For instance in the story it talks about how she changed her name. She quotes “I couldn’t bear it any longer, bring named after people who oppress me” (Walker4). This was a name that had been pasted on for generation which she should have felt proud to have, but she wasn’t. In fact she was so ashamed of this name that she went out and legally changed it.

Another defense mechanism concept that Dee expresses is denial. By changing her name from Dee to “Wangero Leewankia Kemanjo” (Walker4) shows that she is in denial about who she really is and about her family’s past life. The name Dee was a slave name which was why she felt so “oppressed” but she should have been grateful of where her name came from and what it meant to her family, instead of changing it.

The psychoanalytic concept that Maggie projects the most is avoidance.  To avoid reality and she stays to herself. The text states, “Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes, she will stand hopelessly in corners” (Walker1). She should feel comfortable around her sister and if there is an issue, she should address it with confidences. Instead she rather not say much and hold everything inside.

Maggie also displays insecure or unstable sense of self. As described in the text Maggie is not the prettiest or the skinniest girl, but that should not stop her from feeling good about herself. The author quotes, “Homely and ashamed of the burn and the scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe” (Walker1). Although the fire was a traumatic event that happened to Maggie, she should learn how to see past that and walk around with her head held high.

In the end “Use” by Alice Walker is a very interesting short story. The story displays many concepts of the psychoanalytic theory, and how the characters in this story betray them. As humans we are display concepts of the psychoanalytic theory in everyday situation, whether or not we knowledge them is another is on us.