Two Kinds

In the story, “Two Kinds”, Amy Tan writes about a relationship between a mother and a daughter. The mother of Jing-mei wants her daughter to become famous, but Jing-mei just wants to be herself. Tan writes about two songs played by Jing-mei, “Perfectly Contented” and “Pleading Child.” In the story the faster and aggressive song, “Pleading Child”, best represents the mother, and the slower happier song, “Perfectly Contented”, represents Jing-mei.

In the short story “Two Kinds,” Amy Tan explores the clash of cultures between a first-generation Chinese-American daughter, Jing-mei, and her mother, Suyan, a Chinese immigrant. Suyan is certain that Jing-mei can become a prodigy if she only tries hard enough. At first Jing-mei is eager to try, but she always falls short of her mother’s expectations. She decides that the prodigy in her is the girl who would steadfastly refuse to be what she is not. While the mother and daughter reveal their personality through their language, actions, and thoughts, conflict develops between the two women when their cultures and aspirations collide. “Two Kinds” focuses on the of conflict between two kinds of women as well as two kinds of daughters.

Jing-mei and her mother are two kinds of women because of their drastically different life experience. Before she come to America, Jing-mei’s mother has “… lost everything in China: her mother and father, her family home, her first husband, and two daughters, twin baby girls. But she never looked back with regret. Things could get better in so many ways”. As Suyan’s past is revealed, I see a clear picture of a determined and strong-willed woman who beats all the odds to establish a better life in America. However, to the American-born daughter, Jing-mei, her mother’s past remains as far as where China is. She neither understands nor comprehends what her mother has gone through in China. When her mother insists her to learn playing piano, her hurtful response is, “I wish I’d never been born! I wish I were dead! Like them”, which pushes the conflict between the two to a higher level. Jing-mei does not understand or fully know her mother because she does not know about her tragic past and the pain she still feels from the memory of it. Her up brings in America inevitably set her far apart from her mother.

While the confrontation is ever increasing between them, they are also struggling within themselves to define their own roles and identities. To some extent, Suyan adopts many American values. She constantly tells her daughter such a typical American belief that one can be “… anything you wanted to be in America”(1065). However, to an even larger extent, her values and ways of doing things are completely Chinese. Just like most Chinese mothers, she tries to form her daughter into a “proper Chinese girl” who will obey whatever the mother says. Only until the worst clash occurred between these two after the piano recital, is when Suyan unwillingly realizes that she has to let her daughter be one of the American daughters who “follow their own mind”. As a girl grew up in China, I understand this does not come easy to Suyan. In China, the authoritative role of a mother over her daughter is seldom questioned. A good Chinese mother is respected to channel her daughter to be the extension of herself. When the reality forces Suyan to stop forming her daughter into an obedient one, she is, if not giving up, at least giving in part of her roles of being a good Chinese mother.

In addition to the conflict of two kinds of women, Jing-mei is also struggling between two kinds of daughters.

In my point of view, we have all experienced of the same things those days or even present. We believed that adolescence face the same things as Jing- Mei did. We can see that most of the youngsters nowadays being rebellious towards their parents’ order or wish. It is not that they intentionally want to raise the problems but their interest and passion must be considered as well. Adolescences are easily exposed to several of aspects in life. Environmental influence as well as peer influence may render them to be exposed to the certain aspect s of life. Therefore, they may know well about their passion, ambition in future. In contrast, parents always think that their children will always remain as immature. They want to take in control of everything and feel that shaping their children future also is their responsibility. Sometimes, parents may be too strict with their kids. Neglecting their child’s interest and true passion may cost them later on. It is not a win- win situation. Hence, parents are advised to try to consult face- to- face discussion with their children in making decision related to their child’s life. Try to listen to the children first then only you may drag them to listen to what you are suggesting. But, initially, the children themselves must know their own interest and ability in order to persuade their parents in choosing the right path for them. Besides, the children also can prove their parents that they have the ability to succeed in whatever they like and chose.

This short story is appropriate to the young adult learners because it resembles real- life situation in which they may have experienced before.