Heritage

"But they're priceless!" she was saying now, furiously; for she has a temper. "Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they'd be in rags. Less than that!"pg 180, paragraph 68
Everyday Use
Alice Walker


Dee is a complex character because of her contradictory view of her heritage. In the story she stated that she "couldn't bear being named after the people who oppressed" her. This is a reference to slavery, but Dee is clearly confused because her Mother insists she was just named after her Grandmother Dee.
Nonetheless, later Dee wants to claim the family quilts as hers, to honor and respect her heritage. I find it confusing that she rejects her heritage, yet wants to claim it at the same time. Dee most likely is ashamed of her her skin color which causes her to rename herself Wangero. Her powerful and controlling manner over her sister Maggie cause her to yearn for the quilts; she wants the quilts because she doesn't want Maggie to have them--she feels like she deserves them more. I feel like her demand for the quilts is rooted in her "must have it all" personality rather than her supposed want to honor her heritage. Dee obviously doesn't understand her heritage, and I think that this is why Mama gives the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee.  Dee will never be able to appreciate the quilts for what they really stand for.