Wednesday, November 16, 2011

"Everyday Use" - indirect characterization

"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."

In "Everyday Use," Mama indirectly characterizes herself in the above quote. By describing her physcial characteristics and her actions, Mama shows the reader that she is not an ordinary housewife. From her physcial description, the reader can picture a large rough, maybe even manly, woman. Mama is a hard-working woman, who has never had an easy life. She describes how she works hard all day and never complains about having to work. This shows Mama's good nature. She also never mentions having any help which led me to believe she is a single mother.

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