The passage contributes to the readers’ understanding of Maggie by referring to a particular trait of her character: her shyness. She is a withdrawn and unassuming girl and she lacks confidence in herself, in part as a result of a terrible accident that left burn scars in her arms and legs - by contrast, her sister Dee is pretty, resolute, self-indulgent and stylish. And that's why even though she can exactly remember who whittled the dasher that her self-centered sister wants to keep for her, and even how he used to be called, she expresses herself in an almost inaudible voice.
As her mother reveals earlier in the story, "she has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle." She also compares Maggie with somebody "used to never winning anything."
