There are many examples of symbolism in everyday use by Alice Walker. Whether it's Mama Johnson, Dee or Maggie. Even everyday household items. Symbolism is used to express or represent ideas or qualities in English, art, mathematics, science, etc. In many ways symbolism can be used to represent an idea that means more than the literal meaning. In “Everyday Use” Mama Johnson and Maggie are awaiting Dee's arrival after several years of not being able to see her. Dee had left for college some time before and had written a letter saying she would come visit. In the story the characters are described in a certain way. Mama Johnson is a very hard working woman who has done everything a man can do. Dee is a highly educated optimistic woman who has never liked living the poor way her mother and sister Maggie live. She is very opinionated and very opinionated. She likes to make her mother and sister feel worthless compared to her. Maggie on the other hand is a very shy girl who has always lived with Mama Johnson and is not used to having her mother defend her. The conflict started when Dee was asking for household items that belonged to Mama Johnson, but there was one in particular that Dee wanted. Dee had her eye on hand-sewn quilts that had a great story behind them. When she asked Mom if she could have the quilts, Mom said no because she promised Maggie she would have them when she got married. Dee hesitated to give the quilts to Maggie, so Mom snatched them from her hand and placed them in Maggie's arms. Symbolism is used in various ways in Walker's "Everyday Use". For example, the character Mama Johnson is described...... center of card ......g in "Everyday Use". When it comes to inheritance it doesn't matter what item you own or any type of art; all that matters is that we know and recognize where we come from and teach that your heritage comes from no object but the heart. Works Cited Bmad, Nick." Symbolism in Walkers 'Everyday Use'" Enotes Np, July 4, 2007. Web March 17, 2014. Eshbaugh, Ruth. A literary analysis of Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use". Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo.Inc., August 21, 2008.Web. March 17, 2014. SparkNotes Editors. "Themes, Motifs and Symbols". SparkNote. SparkNotes LLC, Nd, Web March 17, 2014. Researchomatic Editors. "Alice Walker's Themes and Symbols of Everyday Use." Researchomatic.Np, May 2011.Web. March 17, 2014.Velasquez, Juan R. “Characterization and Symbolism in Everyday Use of Alice Walker.” Lone star. Np,ndWeb. March 17 2014.