The psychoanalysis part of the work has much to see with the concept of ‘double consciousness’, understood as the awareness of belonging to two different and contrasting cultures, that appears in Dee’s character. After going to college, her personality changes as she has joined a ‘higher status’ than her family when it was her family who helped her financially to go to college. This double consciousness makes her attitude more arrogant, as she belongs to the African American community where she grew up, but she also considers herself part of a more elevated and educated class by attending college. This analysis also includes the image that Dee creates of herself by denying that she comes from a poor family or avoiding remembering the past. This image is a ‘psychological wall’ behind which she hides her past and through which she shows her new personality and way of life, which shows the insecurity the character experiences. She is not completely sure of who she is, she is between the two classes mentioned before, between her ‘old’ and ‘new’ life. The insecurity, as well as other psychoanalytic connections, can be related because of her family's past negative experiences or fears. That is why her lighter color of skin than the rest of the family, the fact of has a college degree, and other differences make her afraid of being abandoned. Maggie and her mother had a good relationship when Dee was at college, so when she came back she felt different and this sense of feeling apart, made her not feel close to them. Moreover, in the short story, both sisters are presented as two opposite extremes, one being the contrary of the other and vice versa. Their connection and treatment towards each other are symbolized by the fire of their house, which influences the way they behave between them and with her mother. Maggie's character also provokes empathy, because growing up feeling you're not as worthwhile as your sister, who enjoys everything that you can't afford becomes frustrating.
In conclusion, both theories of Marxism and psychoanalysis, help the reader understand some aspects of the short story that explain the symbolism of the work. As with Marxist theory, psychoanalysis is also a good way to understand Dee's character, which is more complex than it seemed. To sum up, the story approaches black heritage in different ways, represented by the characters of Dee and Wangero. At the end of the story, Dee has finally come to a point where she flees and as a result, she restores the peace of Maggie.
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Essay on Symbolism in ‘Everyday Use’.
(2024, April 18). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-symbolism-in-everyday-use/
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Essay on Symbolism in ‘Everyday Use’ [Internet]. Edubirdie.
2024 Apr 18 [cited 2024 Dec 22].
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