Monday, October 12, 2015

Where does the primary action take place in "Everyday Use"?

The primary action of this story takes place at the house where Mama and Maggie live. Because Mama describes having saved up enough money many years ago to send her other daughter, Dee (now Wangero), to "Augusta to school," I assume that Mama and Maggie live in a more rural area, outside the city, in Georgia.


This is not, however, the house where Maggie and Dee spent most of their childhood because that house burned...

The primary action of this story takes place at the house where Mama and Maggie live. Because Mama describes having saved up enough money many years ago to send her other daughter, Dee (now Wangero), to "Augusta to school," I assume that Mama and Maggie live in a more rural area, outside the city, in Georgia.


This is not, however, the house where Maggie and Dee spent most of their childhood because that house burned down years ago (under somewhat suspicious circumstances—it is possible that Dee actually burnt it down). This house is similar to that house, though. 


We know that the action is taking place here in part because it is Dee who comes to them. Mama describes the way Dee "lines up picture after picture of me sitting there in front of the house with Maggie cowering behind [her]. She never takes a shot without making sure the house is included."  Although Dee hated the home she grew up in, and this house is quite similar, she is suddenly so interested in documenting it that she takes pictures of it before she even hugs her mother or sister hello.

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