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What is the meaning of this excerpt from "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker?

"In real life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. In the winter I wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog. One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledgehammer and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall. But of course all this does not show on television. I am the way my daughter would want me to be: a hundred pounds lighter, my skin like an uncooked barley pancake. My hair glistens in the hot bright lights. Johnny

Answer :

Final answer:

The excerpt from "Everyday Use" portrays the mother's pride in her physical capabilities and her sense of identity. The correct interpretation of this excerpt demonstrates Dee's shame regarding her mother's appearance and lifestyle choices. This dichotomy emphasizes the broader theme of how personal identity and societal standards can clash within familial relationships.


Explanation:

Understanding the Excerpt from "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

The excerpt highlights the contrast between the mother and her daughter, Dee. The mother describes herself as a large, sturdy woman who takes pride in her physical capabilities and her connection to traditional, rugged work. This strong self-image contrasts sharply with Dee's desire for a different representation of beauty, which is reflected in the mother's self-conscious acknowledgment of how she believes Dee sees her: a hundred pounds lighter and more traditionally attractive.

The correct answer to the question is B. Dee is ashamed of how her mother looks and acts. The mother feels that her daughter wishes for her to conform to a stereotype of femininity that she herself does not embody. Dee's vision of beauty—the one depicted in media—does not include her mother's practical, hardworking persona, which she values but seems to think is not acceptable by societal standards.

Key Themes

  • Self-identity
  • Mother-daughter relationships
  • Society's standards of beauty

Learn more about dealing with identity and societal standards here:

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