Two Kinds Essay

Amy Tan Two Kinds Literary Analysis
Literary Analysis: Two Kinds
All of my life, I've been pushed to succeed. It didn't matter what it was, I just had to do well in
whatever I did. The main source of this effort was my mother. Born and raised in Thailand, a
country in southeast Asia, she took what she knew with her to America, and part of that was the
tiger mom. Now, my mom has never been extremely strict, but sometimes that culture really comes
through. When I look around and see other families with an Asian influence, I consider myself
lucky. The tiger moms I saw were much harder on their kids. I even eventually saw it in literature.
Two Kinds by Amy Tan really captured what it's like to be a kid in the Asian culture, and how
sometimes, the expectations can be overbearing....show more content...
The expectation of excelling in our tasks wore us down and made us think we couldn't be whatever
we wanted, we could just be ourselves. The stress and pressure got to be too much, and in turn, hurt
our relationship with one of the most important people in our lives. The relationship became coarse,
and we both helped cause it to be that way.
At the end of Two Kinds, Jing–mei's mom offers her the piano for her thirtieth birthday. She refuses,
but when her mother passes away, she goes through her mother's belongings and finds the piano
and the old piece she had played at that recital called "Pleading Child" (519). She picks it up and
attempts to play. It's hard at first, but the notes come back to her, and she then tries the next piece,
"Perfectly Contented" (519). It's longer and a lighter tune while "Pleading Child" is shorter and
slower, but Jing–mei realizes that they're the same song.
I believe that Jing–mei didn't realize until then how much her mother cared about her like I hadn't
until I also had picked up an old piano piece and started playing about a year later after the incident.
Then did I realize that my mom didn't want me to have the childhood she had, coming from a poor
family of twelve. Both of our mothers wanted us to be successful and be able to build wonderful
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The Two Kinds By Amy Tan
"In 2009, 33 million people in the United States were second generation immigrants, representing
11% of the national population. The children of such immigrants in the U.S., also known as "second
generation immigrants," experience a cultural conflict between that of their parents and that of
mainstream U.S. society" (Wikipedia 1). Amy Tan the author of "Two Kinds", and the young
character in the story both are a second generation immigrants, who have struggled in their life with
parents, about the culture they assimilating and their real culture. In the "Two Kinds" story the
author illustrates the struggle between her American cultural identity, and her mother's Chinese
culture, as like the characters in the story. The author shows what is the struggle and the conflict that
cultural differences creates. The author also uses symbolism, to address the conflicts between the
characters in the story. The biographical connection that the author "Amy Tan" draws in her short
story "Two Kinds" with her main character Jing–mei, crosses in more than one side. First of all, they
both are Chinese American whose struggle in their identities with their Chinese immigrant mothers.
"Due to a cultural conflict and lack of proper understanding of each other's perceptions" (Priya 1),
and as a big gap developed between the two daughters and their two mothers, in which resulted a
complex relationship between them. Secondly, both of the Amy and Jing mothers were cut off their
native culture, and

"Two Kinds" by Amy Tan is a story that shows a battle between the narrator and her mother, for
control over the narrator's life. Her mother wanted her to become a prodigy, but she wanted to be
anything other than her mother's idea of a successful American. So, throughout the short story
"Two Kinds" she's determined to not quit the fight to no longer have her mother push for her
success. Her determination leads to her rebelling against her mother's ideas, and finally puts a
stop to the idea of a prodigy. "Two Kinds" demonstrates different forms of conflict which allowed
for the narrator to realize that her mother's crazy antics were to help her find what she was good
at. The narrator conquers the twoness in her life after eighteen years by using the conflicts of her
past, and they lead to her growth in maturity and her development as a writer, which allows for
her to reconfigure the battles with her mother. Twoness is "the fact or condition of being two or
doubleness" (Oxford Dictionary). Twoness is also known as duality which is "the condition or
fact of being dual or consisting of two parts or natures" (Oxford Dictionary). Conflict is "a
competitive or opposing action of incompatible, or antagonistic state or action (as of divergent
ideas, interest, or persons). It's a mental struggle that resulted from incompatible or opposing needs,
drives, wishes, or external or internal demands; along with the opposition of person or forces that
gives rise to the dramatic in drama or fiction" (Oxford Dictionary). One indication of conflict is the
cultural difference between the narrator and her mother. Her mother was born and lived her life in
China, while the first–person narrator was born and raised in America. America is known as the land
of opportunity and the land of dreams, which gave her mother the idea that the first–person narrator
could be a prodigy. In other words, from the mother's point of view, the narrator could be whatever
she put her mind to. Her mother came to San Francisco, a place that gave the opportunity for all to
make a life for themselves. Her mother believed "you could be anything you wanted to be in
America. You could open a restaurant. You could work for the government and get a good

Finding Identity In Two Kinds By Amy Tan
"Two Kinds" is a short story written by Amy Tan about a young girl attempting to please her mother,
but also cultivate her own identity. Ironically, (or most likely intentionally), there seem to be two
different types of themes driving the text: the cultural differences between an immigrant and a
natural born citizen of America, and a mother and daughter. The mother is an immigrant from China
that believes in the American dream; she believes that anyone can make it in American with enough
hard work and practice. However, her daughter was raised in American and does not have the same
ideology as her mother. Instead, she believes that people should have their own identity and
thoughts, rather than trying to be like someone else or impress other people. Her mother refuses to
think in such a way, and instead attempts to make the daughter into a child prodigy. Unfortunately,
the daughter gives up trying to please her mother, and instead begins to live her own life, to the
disappoint of her mother. The plot...show more content...
The mother, truly wants what is best for her daughter, but refuses to acknowledge that her
daughter does not want to be a prodigy or play the piano. Her daughter only wants to live her own
life and does not understand the success her mother is trying to push on her. Every mother and
daughter relationship is different, but the most classic type is the "mother knows best trope." Of
course, if the story was presented in China, rather than America, the daughter may have fallen into
her mother's life path, ""Only two kinds of daughters," she shouted in Chinese. "Those who are
obedient and those who follow their own mind! Only one kind of daughter can live in this house.
Obedient daughter!" (Tan pg #). However, since her daughter was born in America, she was given
an opportunity to be who she wanted to be, because of America's new dream of independence and

Two Kinds
Sonam Shankar
ID# 1723801
English 103–276
January 17, 2011–01–17
Two Kinds
Amy Tan
In the short story "Two Kinds", Amy Tan uses the narrator's point of view to share a mother's
attempt to control her daughter's dreams and ambitions. Tan`s short story is an example of how
differing personalities cause struggles between a parent and child. Children often fall victim to a
parent trying too hard or expectations being too high, and in the case of "Two Kinds," we see Jing
Mei's mother trying to live her life through that of Jing Mei. The outcome of her mother's actions
soon leads the narrator into feeling tension within herself, and between herself and her mother.
In the beginning, we find Jing–Mei's mother convincing her that she...show more content...
Jing–Mei characterizes her mother as an ideal parental figure by showing how much hope she has
in her daughter. Her mother's only wishes are to give her daughter more opportunities than she had
growing up in China. And by doing this she shows that no matter how many conflicts there is
between a mother and daughter, a mother will never give up hope on her daughter. She will cherish
her for who she is in the end.
Work Citation:
Tan, Amy. "Two Kinds." The Harbrace Anthology of ShortFiction 4th Ed. Jon C Scott, Raymond E.
Jones, and Rick Bowers. 2006. 346–354.

Two Kinds
The story starts off with the daughter narrating the story talking of her mothers tragedy in China;
The mother who lost her mother, father, husband , and her two twin babies was trying to start over
and give her child the American dream. The daughter the one telling the story was very as the story
began about becoming famous. The mother on the other hand goes to all lengths to try to find her
daughters talents.
The characters in the story are the mother who played a huge role, although her name was never
mentioned. She is a mother who got a second chance at having a family and is very controlling
thinking she is doing what is best or her child. The narrator which is the daughter; she starts off as a
normal child in the story, but...show more content...
The mother was so determined even know they could not afford lessons the mother made
arrangements to trade work for piano lessons. I think the mother felt that at this point the daughter
would see how hard she was willing to work for her and maybe appreciate it and work harder. The
little girl felt differently she was angry towards her mother and felt as if her mother did not except
her for who she was and she wanted to get back at her.
The daughter practiced every day with Mr. Chong not even trying her mind wondering in other
places. Mr. Chong was a deaf man who could only see her hand movements, so that is how he
taught her. The girl caught on fast that Mr. Chong eyes could not keep up with her hands so she
used it to her advantage not to learn. Mr. Chong so proud thinking she was listening to him he was
very excited because she learned how to fake him out.
The mother bragged about her daughter playing the piano everyday to her friend, although the
mother never herd her play until the recital. The mother wanted so bad to see her child in front of
the room making her proud like all of the other mothers before her, but when the little girl went up
on stage the mother didn 't know that she had been just wasting her time. The little girl even had her
self fooled she for a second thought maybe she could play, well maybe if Mr. Chong thought she
could play maybe it was true.
As she played she seen the embarrassment on her parents face; the only

`` Two Kinds By Amy Tan
"Two Kinds" by Amy Tan is a story that shows a battle that starts with the narrator and her mother,
for control over the narrator's life. Her mother wanted her to become a prodigy, but she wanted to
be anything other than that. So, throughout the short story "Two Kinds" she's determined to not
quit the fight. "Two Kinds" is filled with different forms of conflict which allows for the narrator
to realize that her mother's crazy antics were to help her find what she was good at. Which leads to
the narrator facing twoness until her mother is no longer Twoness is "the fact or condition of being
two, duality, doubleness" (Oxford Dictionary). Also known as duality which is "the condition or fact
of being dual or consisting of...show more content...
Yet she didn't see the idea of being able to become anything, and that's because she was raised in
America. From her being raised in America the perception of being anything you wanted to be wasn't
huge in her mind due her not experiencing a form of tragedy or struggle to allow her to see that with
time and effort anything is possible.
A second indication was her battle with herself and the idea of being anything. To achieve success
at the highest level for which she is capable gave her the feeling of striving for perfection.
"Sometimes the prodigy in me became impatient." "If you don't hurry up and get me out of here,
I'm disappearing for good," it warned. "And then you'll always be nothing" (130). The narrator's
thought of being nothing based on how her mother was raising her projected the idea of being a
disappointment, due to her mother pushing for a prodigy to emerge from within her and
becoming a person worth wanting to be. The idea of no achievement made it harder for her as she
grew up, due to the extensive test her mother would give her during dinner. "One night I had to
look at the Bible for three minutes and then report everything I could remember. "Now Jehoshaphat
had riches and honor in abundance and...that's all I remember, Ma." I said. "And after seeing, once
again, my mother's disappointed face, something inside me began to die" (130). Having the thought
of failing in the eyes of her mother made it harder for her to look at herself.

Literary Analysis Of Two Kinds By Amy Tan
Two Kinds of Parents Amy Tan in her short story titled "Two Kinds" uses the character Jing
–Mei and
her mother's oppressive views, to outline a story about her own personal struggle We are exposed
to Mei's struggle to pursue her own path rather than her mother's passion for piano, ballet dancing,
Ripley's believe it or Not remarkable children, and being a modern–day Disney channel movie star.
Amy Tan through imagery, character developments, and symbolism portray the true struggle of
living up to your parent's expectations all while trying to pursue your own passions. The first
literary technique device used by Tan is imagery. Tan describes her mother's fascination with the
"little Chinese girl, about nine years old, with a Peter Pan haircut" playing the piano on TV, by giving
us an in–depth description of the girl by comparing her hair to that of Peter Pan. Tan then relates
to our visual sense of imagery when referring to the girl's dress with descriptive language, "she
also did a fancy sweep curtsy, so that the fluffy skirt of her white dress cascaded to the floor like
petals of a larger carnation." Tan then relates to our sense of hearing when Mei pisses her mother off
and gives the reader an understanding of her mother's authoritarian style of parenting. Her mother
angrily says, "Two kind of daughter. Those who obedient and those who follow own mind. Only one
kind of daughter live in this household. Obedient daughter." Literary critic Elisabeth
Piedmont–Marton in her overview was quoted saying, "Cut off from her native China by distance
and political upheaval, yet distanced from surrounding American culture by language and other
cultural barriers, the mother in the story makes a fortress of her home and uses it as a base of
operations for deploying her matriarchal power over the life and destiny of her child." In addition to
imagery, Tan use Symbolism in her piece. Jing Mei's mother Sauyuan, in the story had to leave
behind two children and a husband during the Chinese Revolution, to migrate to America. Asymbol
of the American Dream. When Mei starts to rebel, to find her identity, her mother fears her child is
abandoning her. Literary critic Kate Bernheimer says that "The constant threat of

Two Kinds Essay
In this quote there is an underlying experience from it's author, Pearl S. Buck, that contributes an
explanation while solidifying the information. Buck spent most her childhood in China, living at
home with an American family and outside in a Chinese society, and all the while observing and
experiencing two lives. In correlation to the quote, Buck has seen the divide of the societies, even in
its maternal ways, and vocalizes how no matter how a mother chooses to show care and affection for
their child, love is deeply rooted into their practices. To set a particular example, take a mother
receiving news her child is at the top of their class. Now the mother could be ecstatic for her child's
achievement, expressing her love and happiness for them, or this mother...show more content...
Regardless of any way the mother chooses to interpret and react to this grandeur of sorts, this
relationship and others alike have expectations that are set, failed, met, or passed; everything made
on the principle of love for the child, with the hope that they will grow up in their vision or the
way they see fit. Similarly to the quote, "it is love all the same," and in what seems like an
adaptation of this quote, is the short story "Two Kinds," which perfectly embodies a clash and
struggle between mother and daughter. In the short story,"Two Kinds," a mother once raised inChina
, flees to America to start a new life. The nation America, to the mother, is a place of opportunity in
which one can be and do anything. Continually, the mother with a new life, had a daughter, which
happens to be the narrator of this story. The mother soon channels her aspirations and knowledge of
America's opportunity into the narrator, with constant tests for signs of a special attribute.
Eventually, the narrator has enough and rebels

Two Kinds by Amy Tan Essay
In the short story, "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan, a Chinese mother and daughter are at odds with each
other. The mother pushes her daughter to become a prodigy, while the daughter (like most children
with immigrant parents) seeks to find herself in a world that demands her Americanization. This is
the theme of the story, conflicting values. In a society that values individuality, the daughter sought
to be an individual, while her mother demanded she do what was suggested. This is a conflict within
itself. The daughter must deal with an internal and external conflict. Internally, she struggles to find
herself. Externally, she struggles with the burden of failing to meet her mother's expectations. Being
a first–generation Asian American,...show more content...
At first, the daughter was to become a Chinese version of Shirley Temple. When that didn't work, her
mother told her that she would be attending piano lessons.
The daughter did not like the idea of playing the piano. "Why don't you like me the way I am? . . . I
am not a genius! I can't play the piano. And even if I could, I wouldn't go on TV if you paid me a
million dollars!" (492–493). Here, Tan is conveying the fact that parents and children have
disagreements on what the child should do, and who the child is to become. For example, parents
may have an idea where they want their child to attend their college education. The child, on the
other hand, may want to go to a different college as suggested. Ultimately, it is the decision of the
child. We cannot live how others want us to live. It is the path of our own making that truly makes
us happy.
Some may see the mother trying to live her life through her daughter. She invests time trying to
make her daughter a prodigy because she was her last hope. The mother lost two children in China
and moves to a new country. Coming to America, she felt that immigrants have to prove that they are
as talented as or more talented than Americans. This belief is supposed to be the basis for the
determination, that the mother has, for Jing–mei to become a prodigy.
The mother in the story tries everything in her power to make Jing–mei famous in some way. Yet
Jing–mei was content to being herself.

Two Kinds Conflict Essay
In Amy tan's short story called Two Kinds, there are many examples of conflict. These include;
Chinese versus American culture, a parent's wishes versus her child's wants, and the pursuit of
material success versus contentment. However, this essay will only address the conflict between the
story's mother and her daughter's personalities. Theirs is a struggle with old–world pride against new
age independence.name the characters. But the author takes pains to show their good qualities as
well, so the story redeems these two characters in the end. In Two Kinds, Jing–mei and her mother
have tension because the mother wants to make sure that her daughter has a better life. Jing–mei
doesn't quite understand that need. One reason for this confusion

Two Kinds by Amy Tan Essay
In "Two Kinds," Amy Tan explores a theme of independence. Jing
–me is an impressionable nine year
old girl living in an apartment with her parents. She struggles with the high expectations of her
mother, to become a prodigy. The conflict results in a rebellious independence. Tan develops
Jing–me's character as willful, defiant, and insecure.
To begin, Tan demonstrates that Jing–me's willfulness stands in the way of her success. For
example, after failing many of her mothers prodigy tests, she begins to hate them. One night after
another failed test, she adopted "new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of
won'ts" (Tan 596). Jing–me decides that she is not going to let her mother change who she is, so she
...show more content...
Although Jing–me attempted to become a prodigy, ultimately it is her willfulness that hampers her
success.
Further, Tan depicts Jing–me as defiant in the face of her mother's expectations for her. This defiant
attitude can be seen when Jing–me finds out that she will be taking piano lessons from Mr. Chong.
She throws a fit and asks her mother "Why don't you like me the way I am?" (597). While at the
piano lessons she further shows her defiance of her mother's expectations when she learns that she
can "be lazy and get away with mistakes, lots of mistakes" (598). Jing–me is upset with her mother
for forcing her to take lessons, so she gets back at her by making a minimal effort to learn. Also,
Jing–me displays her bold attitude a few days after she completely embarrassed her parents with a
miserable performance at a talent–show. For example, she thought that after her poor performance at
the talent–show, she "never had to play the piano again" (601). She further shows her defiant attitude
when her mother reminds her that it is time to practice. Jing–me replies "I'm not going to play
anymore" (601). All of these actions clearly shows Jing–me's defiant nature, which results in a
strained relationship between mother and daughter.
Finally, Tan characterizes Jing–me as insecure in her own capabilities. Like other children her age
she is unsure of her ability to try something new.

Two Kinds
The central struggle in Amy Tan 's story "Two Kinds" is a battle of wills between the narrator, a
young Chinese American girl, and her mother, a Chinese immigrant. "Two Kinds" is a
coming–of–age story, in which the narrator, Jing–mei, struggles to forge her own sense of identity in
the face of her strong–willed mother 's dream that she become a "prodigy." Jing–mei is caught
between her Chinese mother 's traditional ideas about how to raise a daughter, and her own
development as a Chinese American girl straddling two cultures. Like many immigrants to the
United States, Jing–mei 's mother has created idealized visions of her adopted country as a land of
opportunity where all dreams may be realized. The first line of the story introduces...show more
content...
Such a sad, ugly girl! The face Jing–mei first sees in the mirror is the face of who she is in her
mother 's eyes. "Trying to scratch out the face in the mirror" symbolizes her attempt to erase or
obliterate her mother 's image of her as a failure. Through this acknowledgment to herself that she
is not the person her mother wants her to be, she begins to glimpse an image of her own definition
of herself emerging from the mirror. And then I saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of
me––because I had never seen that face before. I looked at my reflection, blinking so I could see
more clearly. The girl staring back at me was angry, powerful. This girl and I were the same. I had
new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of won 'ts. Through this insight,
Jing–mei for the first time articulates her determination to live by her own self–definition, rather
than those ill–fitting "selves" her mother continues to impose upon her: "I won 't let her change me,
I promised myself. I won 't be what I 'm not." As the story progresses, Jing–mei becomes more and
more openly defiant against her mother 's wishes. One night, she bursts out at her

Essay On Two Kinds By Amy Tan
Interactions with Real Mothers and Daughters Our native instinct as children is that we want to be
our own unique independent person, no matter who gets in our way, not even our parents. Parents
and children fight over what the children want to do in life all the time. "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan
is a short story where a young girl's feelings change over time with her mother. The daughter,
Jing–mei, is being forced by her mother to become a prodigy. Jing–mei does not think she can
become a prodigy, creating a conflict in the relationship with her and her mother. After a thorough
analysis of the story, the reader understands how Jing–mei's feelings towards her mother changed,
why her feelings changed, and how those changed feelings affected the...show more content...
Their feelings changed due to the way they acted towards each other and how they interpreted events
in their lives. As a result, it caused many future conflicts to occur within their lives. Jing–mei and her
mother both reflect the ways that real mothers and daughters act in the world with each other. There
is always two ways of seeing life, but never forget there is only one correct way to see happiness in

Two Kinds
Two Kinds is a wonderful little short story about a immigrant Chinese woman in the mid 1950's to
early 1960's that moved to Chinatown in California to give herself a better opportunity to make it in
America. In the story we see the Amy's mother as a woman who already has dealt with her fair share
of pain and disappointment. Jeng–mei mothers entire family seemed to have been wiped out before
she came to America from China Jeng–mei explains " she had come to San Francisco in 1949 after
losing everything in China: her mother and father, her home, her first husband, and two daughter,
twin baby girls. But she never looked back with regret."
This was the type of woman Amy's mother was diligent, unwavering, focus that there could be a
...show more content...
I won't let her change me". This is where struggle rears its ugly head in her and her mother's
relationship Jeng–mei not being from China lacked an obedience that her counterpart may have had
because she was an American child. You see Jeng–mei's mother did not take into consideration her
child being an American was probably not going to be as obedient as other Chinese girls were.
Jeng–mei's mother reason for coming to America was to take advantage of all America had to offer
but I don't think Amy's mother realized that America gave her daughter her ownmind. In conclusion
we see through the rest of the story that there was more conflict with the two. Jeng–mei's mother
buys a piano for her daughter to learn how to play and become a prodigy at the piano. Mrs. Tan
traded cleaning house with Mr. Chong their deaf neighbor who used to teach music. Amy starts to
slack because her music teacher was deaf and not able to truly hear what Amy was playing. This was
reflected in the recital and utterly bombed in front her parent, family, and friends. Amy's mother was
disappointed but when Jeng–mei felt that this would be her escape and her mother would not bother
her about this prodigy thing she was sadly mistaken Jeng–mei's mother did not waver from this way
of thinking. Jeng–mei then has a fit and becomes like a typical American child and becomes very
disrespectful toward her mother and Amy's mother and her

Amy Tan Two Kinds
"Two Kinds" is truly an amazing work; it captivates readers with by telling a story of a young girl
trying to find herself. Amy Tan does a phenomenal job, not only by portraying a very real
mother–daughter relationship, but at showing how much a young girl can change. Jing–Mei evolves
throughout the story in a way that many people can relate to; crushed hopes, obeying your parents
even if it means doing something you don't want to do, and finally standing up for what you believe
in. Since "You could be anything you wanted to be in America" (Tan 348) Jing
–Meis' mother
thought that meant that you had to be a prodigy. While that makes "Everything [sound] too simple
and too easily achieved; [Jing–Mei] does not paint a picture of her...show more content...
Jing–Mei tried the best she could but no matter how hard she tried she just didn't know the answers.
"After seeing [her] mother's disappointed face once again, something inside of [her] began to die.
[She] hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations" (Tan 350). At this point in the story
the protagonist, Jing–Mei, slowly comes to the realization that "[She'll never be the kind of daughter
[her mother wants her] to be" (Tan 356). With the thought of not letting her mother change her
Jin–Mei began to try to make her mother "Give up hope" (Tan 350). "[She] pretended to be bored"
so that she would not have to take the tests. And it worked she was finally able to be herself, there
was no "mention of [her] being a prodigy" (Tan 351). But all too soon that changes, "One day [her]
mother was watching The Ed Sullivan Show on TVВ….She seemed entranced by the musicВ…[The
music] was being pounded out by a little Chinese girl, about nine years old, with a Peter Pan
haircut." But "In spite of these warning signs, [Jing–Mei] wasn't worried. [Her] family had no piano
and [they] couldn't afford to buy one" (Tan 351). Days after watching the show, Jing–Meis' mother
told her that she was to take piano lessons. "When [her] mother told [her] this, [Jing–Mei] felt as
though [she] had been sent to hell," but all the whining and kicking would not cause her mother to
deter her mother.
Jing–Mei found herself taking piano lessons that she did

Two Kinds By Amy Tan
Essay on "Two Kinds"
Type your essay on "Two Kinds" below:
Title The short story "Two Kinds," written by Amy Tan, focuses on the struggles of a young
protagonist named Jing–mei trying to find herself without the influences and pressure of others.
Aldous Huxley once said, "One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them."
This relates to the story in significant ways because when Jing–mei's mother moved to America in
hopes of a better future, Jing–mei is pushed to be the "perfect child." Her mother convinces her the
only way to do so was to become a prodigy. Although on board with this idea in the beginning, years
pass by, along with Jing–mei's hopes of becoming this "perfect child." In the beginning of the...show
more content...
She thought long and hard one night and soon decided, "I won't let her change me, I promise myself.
I won't be what I'm not" (Tan 223). This was the start to a long, tiring battle between the two which
would soon, unknowingly, damage them mentally and emotionally, enduringly. She began
neglecting her mother's tricks to help her and started to rebel. After her mother enrolled her in piano
lessons, Jing–mei took complete advantage of them and her deaf piano instructor. She "would play
after him, the simple scale, the simple chord, and then [I] just played some nonsense that sounded
like a cat running up and down on top of garbage cans" (Tan 226). It showed how little effort she
put in and how she was going against her mother's wishes to no extent, wasting her hard earned
money just to make a statement. It seemed the harder and more she was pushed, the less Jing–mei
believed in herself or her mother's attempts. As we reach the end of "Two Kinds," you start to see a
significant change in Jing–mei's attitude. After what she took as a peace–offering from her mother,
she started to regain hope in their relationship. The offering was brought about when her mother
"surprised me. A few years ago, she offered to give me the piano for my thirteenth birthday. I had
not played in all those years. I saw the offer as a sign of forgiveness, a tremendous burden removed"
(Tan 232). This short conversation carried much meaning in Jing–mei's mind, and

THEME
The title of this short story "Two Kinds" is describes the theme of this story. The mother had stated
that there are only two types of daughters. "Those who are obedient and those who follow their own
mind." (pg 412) Jing Mei did not understand the truth or meaning behind that declaration until after
her mothers death. Jing Mei realized that her mother only meant that she could be an obedient child
by listening to her mother while at the same time follow her own heart and want her own prodigy
in life. The last paragraph in this story also indicates the theme of two halves being equal to one.
The two songs "perfectly contented" and "pleading child" was actually two halves of one song.
Despite Jing Mei and her mother's differences...show more content...
When she looked herself in the mirror (pg 407) she saw just an ordinary face and began to cry.
She then saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of her self. She saw an angry powerful girl that
only wanted to use that energy to resist her mother hopes for her. Through out the story Jing Mei
seems to be a complicated character having many inner and outer conflicts. The mother comes across
as being controlling and constant on push her daughter to become famous.
PLOT DEVELOPMENT
Early in childhood Jing Mei dreamed of finding her prodigy and being a famous Chinese
American, mostly because of the views and actions her mother placed on her. Her mother believed
you could be anything you wanted to be in America. (pg 405) Her mother was always pushing new
tests and talents on Jing Mei. She even went as far as having her daughter Jing Mei models her
physical appearance and actions after a child–star Shirley Temple. Her other was always testing her
with many different things trying to discover Jing Mei's talent. Later Jing Mei started to feel like
her mother was just trying to make her into someone she was not and started to just fail and not try
to do anything right hoping her mother would give up. When her mother died she had realized what
her mother had been trying to do. Her mother had only wanted her to do her best. She had then to
realize what her mother had

Two Kinds Character Analysis Essay
A mother's belief in the American dream causes her to incessantly encourage her daughter to be an
Americanized prodigy in Amy Tan's Two Kinds. An immigrant from China, where she lost everyone
and everything in her life, Jing–mei's mother sets about training her daughter to achieve the best
quality of life America can offer. At first excited, Jing–mei, tries everything her mother sets before
her. The conflict arises when Jing–mei begins to feel the effects of her failed attempts and her
mother's mounting disapproval. The climax of the story is Jing–mei's abysmal piano performance,
and subsequent fight with her mother. Hurling the most hurtful thing she can think of at her mother,
a reference to the sacrifice of her twin daughters in...show more content...
Summarily, Tan would have identified with the cultural gap prevalent in her writing. Another area in
which Tan could identify is with Jing–mei's mother's incessant meddling in her life. Tan's mother
refused to speak to her for six months after Tan decided to drop out of the college she had hand
picked for Tan (Wikipedia). It sounds like Tan's mother was frustrated with daughters "who follow
their own mind[s]!" (Tan 7), as well. Perhaps most interesting of all is, as an adult, Tan found out her
mother had actually left a family behind in China: a husband and four children (Wikipedia). Eerily
familiar to Jing–mei's mother's own story. Furthermore, certain elements of the story play essential
roles in understanding the characters, plot and purpose of the story. Through Jing–mei's first–person
narrative, Jing–mei recounts her impression of growing up with her mother's dream of her becoming
a prodigy. Jing–mei and Jing–mei's mother are both strong willed individuals with a multicultural
language barrier. The miscommunication in their Chinese and English understanding of the words,
"prodigy" and "genius" are prime examples. In one argument Jing–mi cries, "Why don't you like me
the way I am?...I'm not a genius!" (Tan 3). Her mother's response, "Who ask you to be
genius?...Only ask you be your best. For you sake. You think I want you to be genius? Hnnh! Who
ask you!" (3) is rife with misinterpretation of the two terms. In Jing–mei's

Amy Tan Two Kinds Essay
The story "Two Kinds," written by Amy Tan, has a plot that many people can relate to while
growing up as a child. The theme of the story is that there are two kinds of people: the one the
mother wants her to be and the one Jing–mei (the protagonist and narrator of the story) strives to be.
Both mother and daughter in the story have a very complicated relationship. The mother believes
that you could become anything you wanted in America. The author emphasizes that Jing–mei's
mother tries to dominate and control her life in every possible way you can imagine. For example
her mother's persistent ways in trying to make her into something she's not a "prodigy", as well as
making her take piano lessons so she can win against one of her mother's...show more content...
Jing–mei's mother wants her daughter to have every advantage in this growing land of
opportunity by reinforcing her to try harder in school so she could have academic excellence as
Liz Brent states "The tone of this opening paragraph introduces an element of irony in the narrator's
attitude toward her mother's vision of America as a place where "you could become anything you
wanted to be." Everything sounds too simple and too easily achieved"(Overview 1).Once again
America is referred as the country of opportunities and where dreams come true while working hard
and being dedicated to chores and the development of activities that involve a highly paid or talented
future.
At first the mother thought the daughter was able enough to be the next Chinese Shirley Temple, by
making her watch old movies as if they were training videos. So she took her to a beauty training
school to get her hair done like Shirley Temple but instead looked like Peter Pan. Not only acting was
involved in this situation. Memorizing capitals and states, multiplying numbers, finding the queen of
hearts in a deck of cards, standing on her head without hands, predicting daily temperatures in certain
states, reading three minutes from the bible and restating a summarize, were simple chores

Two Kinds Essay

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