r mother tells us, ôOften I fought off the temptation to shake her. At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style wasö (Walker, 1973, p. 1175). Maggie, in contrast, lacks any of the qualities Dee is proud of, and will marry John Thomas, a local boy with ômossy teeth in an earnest faceö (Walker, 1973, p. 1175).
When Dee rifles through a trunk at the end of the bed, she discovers a collection of quilts that have symbolic and historical value to Maggie and the narrator. They were put together from pieces of clothing by the narratorÆs parents. Dee asks her mother is she might have the quilts. Her mother informs her that she can have some of the quilts that are stitched by machine, but the ones stitched by hand are promised to Maggie for her wedding to John Thomas. Dee is angered over this. She thinks that Maggie is too nanve to appreciate the quilts and claims she will misuse them, ôMaggie canÆt appreciate these quilts! SheÆd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday useö (Walker, 1973, p. 1178). DeeÆs mother tells he she hopes Maggie will use them in such a manner, since they represent hard work and sacrifice and have not been in use for a long period of time.
The narrator knows that Dee only wants the quilts because they represent something valuable to her, something she can use to show off in front of others. Maggie offers to give the quilts to Dee. Maggie is use to always getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop, so-to-speak, when it comes to her more sophisticated and stylish sister. As the mother tells us, for Maggie, ôthis was the way she know God to workö (Walker, 1973, p. 1179). The mother has an epiphany at this point. She sees Dee in a way she never has before and promptly provides her with the prized quilts.
Dee leaves in a huff once she cannot have the quilts. She explains to Maggie, ôItÆs really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live youÆd neve...