A Psychoanalytical Reading of Everyday Use by Alice Walker

Eman Mohammed A psychoanalytical reading of Everyday Use by Alice Walker In everyday use the story is about a black family consists of two daughters and a mother. Its main idea is the attachment between each character to the past and to their family. Each character has different perspective towards the past. In my following essay I intend to look deeply in the characters mind by applying the psychoanalytical reading which can present details not only about the text but also about the author. There are different angles of this field and Im going to tackle some of them; by means of using some Freudian terms I will depend on the character analysis method and by referring to the characters in relation with the author†¦show more content†¦The other point is that in her day dreaming she fantasizes about how she would like her relationship with Dee to be:Youve no doubt seen those TV shows where the child who has made it is confronted†¦But that are a mistake. I know even before I wake up. The mother desires to have a sentimental relations hip with Dee is apparent. Moving to Dees character she appears as a selfish girl in which her actions are controlled by her id. In the story she always wants to satisfy her desires and doesnt care to the people whom she will hurt while trying to get what she wants. As she arrives she begins to ask for things and collecting objects that she will show it off to her friends. Here, the desire of wanting something is shown in her collecting of these things , so she has the desire to back into her original roots because it become fashionable . The mother thinks that she will never bring her friends over to her house because she is embarrassed by her mother’s humble. Surprisingly, she brings her boyfriend; she brings him only to show off what they have of heritage. Consciously, she believes that she is the better in her family in understanding her past and heritage but unconsciously, she revealed the opposite. This is shown in changing her name; she doesnt want to be called so because she doesnt wan t to be named after someone else thus, she wants to be separated from her past, I couldnt bear it any longer, being