Everyday Use

Do you think the qualities and attitudes of her daughters are reason good enough for the narrator to pass ont he quilts as an heirloom to a particular daughter ?

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Yes, I believe that weighing that qualities and attitudes of her daughters was important in Mama's decision of who would receive them. Quilting is a well-loved custom and tradition (to this day), and in Mama's family it was passed down from generation to generation. Mama lovingly constructed those quilts in memory of people she loved, and they needed to be handed down where the "love" would be translated into respect and care.

Mama loves both of her daughters, but Dee doesn't have the same respect for those who came before her as Maggie. Dee is brighter and more successful than both her mother and her sister, but she doesn't respect her historical heritage. She wants the quilts to show off, for materialistic reasons, she wants to be able to hang them on the wall or use them as a centerpiece, but this can all be considered superficial. Dee embraces her African heritage at the expense of her American heritage. Mama and Maggie respect and love the people rather than the movement; they cherish the things, they hold them, touch them and love them. This is what Mama bases her decision on........ and yes, it's a good enough reason.

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Everyday Use