Character Analysis of Maggie in Everyday Use
...he has no sense of comfort or security, unless she is actually comforted by another individual. When Maggie asks, “How do I look, Mama?”(87), she is worried and afraid that she may not be up to par compared to what she views Dee to be. In contrast to Dee, Maggie lacks the self-evident pride to be successful in any area of life. To sit by the wayside and watch as others pass by on the journey of life, came as an everyday thing for Maggie. As Maggie watches, “she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed” (86) of herself and watch as Dee makes a successful life of her own. Her confidence builder was only found in that of her mom. Be that as it may, her mother did not tell her that she was beautiful in the least sense because “She knows she is not bright. Like good looks and money, quickness passed her by” (88). Degrading behavior is not an excellent way to enhance a child’s happiness and welfare. Maggie’s interaction with others, or the lack thereof, is clearly depicted as “She stood there with her scarred hands hidden in the folds of her skirt” (91). Maggie is clearly not confident in speaking and relating to others. When “Maggie’s hand is as limp as a fish” (89), she is not comfortable with the fact someone has greeted her without her permission. Instead of shaking Asalamalakim’s hand, and greeting him with a smile, “she keeps trying to pull it back” (89) to avoid any type of humiliation she may encounter. To speak to someone outside of her family, would be a clear violation of her personality. Going that far in saying that she would only speak to her family is an understatement. When Maggie does speak to anyone at all, it is short, quick and to the point. If not that, she is quiet and to herself as a child would be after being scrutinized. She is more interested or fearful of how she will look if she tried. If she was given an opportunity to socially succeed, she would choose not to take it, even if she was guaranteed social success. To avoid an altercation with anyone, Maggie will to back down to anyone and anything conflicting with her own thoughts and emotions. Instead of standing up for herself, she merely says “She can have them Mama” (91), and leaves it at that. She doesn’t even stand up for herself even if she does believe that she deserves the rugs. Dee basically intimidates her into “making” her give her the rugs. Maggie is the type of person who, instead of going out of her way to impress others, rather would sit by and watch as other impressed her. If Maggie is confronted about a certain issue, she would rather hide and be stubborn than deal with the fact that there is a disagreement at hand: Maggie attempts to make a dash for the house, In her shuffling way, but I stay her with my hand. “Come back here, “I say. And she stops and tries to dig a well in the sand with her toe. (88) This is showing that rather than confronting what her mother has seen her do, she decides to dig her toe into the sand and hide, so she does not have to see, or talk to Dee. This is the main reason why Dee does not like socializing with others. The third reason why Maggie is being depicted as insecure is because of her straightforward, simple lifestyle. Maggie is the type of girl that is afraid of change and afraid of taking a chance on something new. Maggie does not want to sacrifice her everyday chores at her home to go out into the real world and try real things. Her simplicity in staying where she is at is easier and effortless to her. Making changes on her simple lifestyle would not make it simple anymore; rather it would make it more difficult. Everyday Maggie wakes up at the same ho...