Alice Walker demonstrates external conflict between family members in “Everyday Use.” Walker illustrates the mistake by some of placing the significance of family background solely in material objects. Walker presents Mama and Maggie, the younger daughter, as an example that heritage passes from one generation to another through a learning experience. However, Dee, the older daughter, doesn’t see heritage this way and is more materialistic. When Dee visits Mama and Maggie, the contrast of …showed first 75 words of 700 total…

…showed last 75 words of 700 total…heritage" (Walker 295). Dee believes heritage to be the quilt on the wall or the churn in the alcove. Dee knows the items are hand-made but not the knowledge and history behind the items. Yet, Mama does know the knowledge and history and knows that Maggie does too. Dee criticizes Mama for not understanding heritage when, in fact, Dee fails to really understand heritage. Dee mistakenly places heritage in what she owns, not what she knows.