Previous
Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of “Everyday Use” is lighthearted with some underlying tension. The lightheartedness comes from the ironic and comedic elements of the story, such as the clashing of Dee and Hakim-a-barber’s embracing of the Black Power movement (as seen in their clothes, hairstyles, and chosen names) and Mama and Maggie’s practical and down-to-earth relationship to their Blackness and everyday lives. The story’s joviality also stems from the fact that Mama is glad to have her daughter home for a visit and that Dee is genuinely enjoying aspects of her family—and their home—that she loathed in the past (such as her grandmother’s quilts and other family heirlooms).
The tension in the story stems from the fact that Dee’s enjoyment of these heirlooms has a condescending edge—she views them as aesthetic and cultural artifacts she can display in her home, not objects that are for “everyday use” (the way that Mama and Maggie view them). In the climactic scene, the tension escalates until Mama ultimately rejects Dee’s request for her grandmother’s quilts, as seen in the following passage:
I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open.
“Take one or two of the others,” I said to Dee.
The tension in this passage comes across in the fact that Mama “did something [she] never had done before” and “snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s hands” (Dee has requested to go by “Wangero”) before giving them all to Maggie. That Maggie “just sat there […] with her mouth open” suggests that it is rare for Mama to stand up to Dee like this.
It is notable that even in this climactic scene, the mood is still somewhat lighthearted. Mama does not yell at Dee or hurt her—she simply says, “Take one or two of the others,” referencing quilts that are slightly less precious. This indicates that her love for her daughter is still strong, even if she doesn’t agree with Dee’s orientation to their family heirlooms.
Related Themes:
