Alice Walker

Everyday Use
"Mama" is never given a name in this short story but everyone else is; both of mama's girls have names, their boyfriends, and other family members. I think Alice Walker used this to make "mamas" character seem ignorant of the rise of education and women leaving homes instead of staying home. Mama never got an education, and can barely read. She seems proud of her daughter, Dee's success but doesn't think it was necessary. "She washed us in a river or make-believe, burned us to her with a lot of knowledge we didn't necessarily need to know. " Even though, she doesn't think Dee needed to go to college to become a successful woman, she supports her by raising money with the church and sending her to Augusta School. Obviously, she loves her daughter very much and encourages her to be successful in her own way.
Dee seems to take advantage of the fact that her mother will give her anything she wants. I think she is appreciative of her mother, I just think she has a hard time being understanding of her mother's background. "Mama" seems to be the only one taking care of her two daughter's because no father is every mentioned.
"I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man...I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing;"
She is one strong woman providing for her family. Dee seems to me to want a better life for herself than this but I don't think its because she doesn't appreciate everything her mother gave her necessarily.