The Century Quilt Essay Example for Free

The Century Quilt EssayMarilyn Wanieks The Century Quilt employs symbolism to relay a offspring girls emotional attachment of a grandmothers blanket to that of her own pouf. Wanieks depiction of the quilt not only serves as a reminder of how passionate the young girl felt about her grandmothers blanket, but also how she envisioned her quilt to share similar properties that embodied her grandmothers blanket. In lieu of the literal concept of using the quilt to keep her warm, the speaker suggests that he quilt will tie-in with her grandmothers blanket in that the memories of her childhood would be preserved. This relationship allows the reader to interpret the symbolic importance of the quilt to that of the girls personal desires. It can also be inferred that the quilt also served as a reference to the speakers heritage.When describing her quilt, the speaker describes a pattern of squares with the colors of white, brown, and the yellowbrown of Mamas cheeks (Line 17). These repea ting patterns of squares most believably pay homage to the speakers mixed heritage, with her family being of both Native American and Caucasian descent. The speakers heritage is supported by her visions of her grandmothers childhood back in Kentucky among her yellow sisters their grandfathers white family (Lines 25-26). While one could argue that the speaker is simply reciting the smell of her grandmother, it can also be said that the speaker is optimistic about her own future, and that she herself would relive her memories whilst under the quilt, such as meeting her unconceived son. The speakers desire to share the same emotional response to her quilt as her grandmother to her blanket signifies the priority Waniek placed symbolism.