amy tan
Amy Tans' heartbreaking story, "Two Kinds", is a powerful example of conflicting personalities and needs that cause a struggle between parent and child. In every family, parents have, at one point, imposed their failures and expectations on their children, and in worse cases have even tried to live through their children. At times, it can be in the best interest of the child to have a parent motivate them in a specific direction, but as in this story it can sometimes backfire, and the child can be left with feelings of disapproval and questions of "self-worth." Instead of enforcing these standards parents should let their children be individuals, and have them learn through their own conscious decisions, and only interfere when the child is headed in the wrong direction. Of course, family values and morals should be taught to a child at a young age to prevent any disastrous situations, and help the child determine between right and wrong. Jing-Mei stands for this individualism in the story, and the mother represents that obtrusive unwanted force. Amy Tans' message in this passage is clear. Frequently imposing standards on a person throughout their life can greatly affect their actions, feelings, and attitudes.
ict in this story is between Jing-Mei and her mother. Ever since Jing-Mei was a little girl her mother has believed she could be a prodigy. Her mother would watch television or read articles in magazines to get ideas from other amazing children. Then she would test Jing-Mei tirelessly to try and find something she would be best at. At first Jing-Mei seemed to enjoy her mothers intentions, " In fact in the beginning I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so" (386), but as time went on the tests started to get harder and Jing-Mei kept failing repeatedly. After constantly having to see her mothers disappointed face, Jing-Mei's attitude and feelings began to change, "I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations." (387) She began to see a new side of herself; a strong powerful girl with willful thoughts and lots of won'ts, " I won't let her change me, I promised myself I won't be what I'm not." (387) So throughout the rest of her life she asserted her right to fall short of her mothers expectations, believing that she could never be anything she wanted to be, she can only be herself. The mother is the antagonist in the story; she does not realize what she is doing to her daughter. In her mind she is just helping Jing-Mei to strive for the best, by Jing-Mei opposing her it makes her feel that her daughter is ungrateful and disobedient. This wanting and pushing for the best stems from their current situation, of having little money, and from the mother's past experiences. "America was where all my mother's hopes lay." (386) This is the country were she wants her daughter to have a better life than she had. She was born in China where she lo
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Approximate Word count = 1131
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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