Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds” Essay

In Amy Tans short story Two Kinds we see the push relationship between a Chinese immigrant vex and a first-generation American daughter. Throughout the text, Jing-meis mother continually pushes her to become a prodigy. She is so obsessive of her daughters excellence, that she does not see the emotional injury she creates. Jing-mei reacts negatively to the pressure. She becomes indifferent, angry, excited and hopeful her emotions fluctuate, because she is in a perpetual make out between her identity and the identity her mother tries to create for her. No ace wins this tug-of-war it only ends in anger and disappointment. Jing-mei sets out to become the direct resister of what her mother wants. It just goes to show that forcefulness doesnt work in any situation.In the beginning of the story, Jing-mei tries to do everything right. She goes a large with her mothers nearly impossible tests, tries to become Shirley Temples double and for the most part maintains a good attitude about her mothers continuous prompting. In all of my imaginings I was filled with a sense that I would soon become perfect, she said. Jing-mei tried to convince herself that she could become what her mother valued her to be. scorn the attempts made by Jing-mei, she always seems to fall short of her mothers expectations. Her mother relentlessly pushes her, because she wants her daughter to be more favored than she is. She feels that in America, anything is possible if you try hard and practice. This is true for many things however, worthy an overnight prodigy is not one of them.It doesnt take Jing-mei long to realize that she will never fulfill her mothers demands. She is pine because she feels that her mother does not accept her for the person that she is. Her mothers failed hopes and taken for granted(predicate) disenchantments crush Jing-mei emotionally. Out of her pain, she purposely projects a personality that her mother disapproves of. Her genius becomes antagonistic and argu mentative, where it is was once considerate and peaceable. She intentionally says things like I desire Id never been born, in efforts to hurt her mother, as she was wounded. Despite the volatile relationship, poor attitude and numerous disappointments, Jing-meis mother ploughs on, raze more zealously. She is convinced that she can make the amount girl into an marvelous sensation.As the years pass by, the dreams of Jing-meis mother fade away. Jing-mei leads an average life, making average mistakes and basically being the average woman. Her mother in the long run gives up hope. She offers the pianissimo assai to Jing-mei, in an effort that I believe, is to symbolize that she is allow go. It could be a peace offering, or it could just be that she lastly succumbs to the realization that her daughter will always be just Jing-mei. The piano is almost like a trophy, it says OK, youve won. After Jing-mei wins she is comfortable enough to melt down the pianothe piece of furniture tha t tormented her. She is at peace acting Pleading Child. At a glance she notices that the other half of the song is Perfectly Contented. At the final stage in the story, that is exactly how she feels, abruptly contented.