The story "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan
The story "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan outlines the story of a mother with high expectations of life for her daughter. Notably, the daughter, Jing-Mei "June" and her mother are expecting a great life in America. At first, June's mother had the thought of her daughter becoming a Chinese Shirley Temple; thus, she took her to a beauty training school in the Mission District. Jing-Mei was interested in the Chinese Shirley, but only to make a career in dancing and singing. Her mother was mesmerized by the fact that her daughter might be a genius; hence, she would make her do a pointless test that she saw other prodigy children doing in magazines such as reciting the world capitals and standing with the head.
Jing-Mei's Journey Away From Her Mother's Expectations
Nevertheless, her tests start deviating the beliefs she had about her daughter. Jing-Mei quits Chinese Shirley, and she is forced to take piano classes with the neighbor, Mr. Chong in exchange for house cleaning. The ex-pianist is deaf and has poor eyesight. Therefore, Jing-Mei takes the advantage to play as she wants and ultimately not learn the skills. A talent show supervenes, and Jing-Mei's mother signs her up out pride from her friend, Lindo Jong, whose daughter is a prodigy chess player. She boasts to her friend about her daughter being a prodigy piano player. In the performance, Jing-Mei performs poorly. Later, she thinks that her mother would be mad for letting her down in front of the whole town. Surprisingly enough, her mother comments nothing about the recital but asks her if she intends to attend the piano classes. Consequently, Jing-Mei declines with the thought that her mother had the notion that she should quit. However, her mother forces Jing-Mei to attend the classes, where she exclaims wishing she was not born or rather dead. As time elapsed, the piano classes stopped. She is all grown into a beautiful young woman. Later, on Jing-Mei’s thirteenth birthday, her mother offers her a piano, where she starts playing various songs including "The Pleading Child," which she had played halfway. The story develops multiple themes attributed by different instances contributed by multiple characters.
Themes Portrayed in the Story
The fascinating bits about the story involves Jing-Mei learning piano from an old man, Mr. Chong, who is deaf and has poor eyesight, yet Jing-Mei's mother signs her up in a talent show contest with the thought that she is a prodigy from the piano lessons (Garner). Consequently, she performs poorly in the talent show, and Mr. Chong who is deaf is the only one who applauds for Jing-Mei at the talent show (Garner). The reason I intended to choose the story revolves around the inevitability of Jing-Mei to rebel against her mother. More so, she boasts to her friend, Lindo Jong about her daughter's talent, yet Jing-Mei was not conversant with the piano since she had not been paying attention to her tutor for the fact that he was deaf and had poor eyesight (Garner). The story develops various themes such as sovereignty attributed by different instances contributed by the characters. This paper scrutinizes about Jing-Mei and her mother, Suyuan relating to the idea of independence in the story.
The Theme of Independence
The theme of independence has been portrayed in the story by two characters (Jing-Mei and her mother) in the story. Suyuan sought to raise her daughter to become independent so that she can secure her life in the American dream (M). She tries all means by enrolling her in different areas to identify her main talent. For instance, she makes Jing-Mei join the Chinese Shirley temple despite her reluctance since she wanted the best in for her life. Jing-Mei recalls how her mother wanted her to become a Chinese Shirley from the old movies they used to see together. She states:
June's Struggle for Independence
"At first, my mother thought I could be a Chinese Shirley Temple. We'd watch Shirley's old movies on TV as though they were training films. My mother would poke my arm and say, 'Ni kan. You watch.' And I would see Shirley tapping her feet, or singing a sailor song, or pursing her lips into a round O while saying 'Oh, my goodness.' Ni kan,' my mother said, as Shirley's eyes flooded with tears. 'You already know how. Don't need talent for crying!'" (Tan 14).
As time elapsed, she started gaining some interest in the Chinese Shirley Temple, even though her main interest revolved around singing and dancing offered in training. However, she grows resentful after realizing the disappointment in her mother's eyes, since she could not do what other American prodigy did in magazines or the old movies (M).
Jing-Mei's Rebellion and Fight for Independence
Further, in the story, Jing-Mei fights to gain independence from her mother whose decisions were inevitable. She states:
"She and I were the same. I had new thoughts, willful thoughts - or rather, thoughts filled with lots of wants. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not" (Tan 17).
June discovers her dominant side and resolves not to undertake any activities to please her mother to become independent. Later, Suyuan watches "The Ed Sullivan Show" on television and sees a young Chinese girl playing piano and matches her with June. The next day she enrolls her to an ex-pianist, Mr. Chong in determined efforts to make June independent in the American life (M). Nevertheless, June follows her mother orders and attends classes despite her reluctance of fighting to become independent by doing what pleases her best (M). However, she becomes independent in the piano classes by doing whatever pleases her after realizing that Mr. Chong was deaf and had developed poor eyesight (M).
In another instance, June tries to become independent despite her mother’s inevitability choices. She tells her:
"Why don't you like me the way I am?" I cried. "I'm 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!" My mother slapped me. "Who ask you to be genius?" she shouted. "Only ask you be your best" (Tan 32).
Despite June wanting to become sovereign by questioning her mother, Suyuon wanted the best for her by making her independent in American life. She persuaded her to undertake the piano classes not to become a star on television like the Chinese girl but for her to be better in life and not reliant on anybody in America (Garner). Additionally, she tells her that there are two types of daughters; those who are obedient and those that follow their mind, Suyuon thinks she has won by identifying her daughter. However, June fought for her independence and shouted:
"Then I wish I weren't your daughter; I wish you weren't my mother," I shouted. As I said these things I got scared (Tan 32).
Conclusion
Finally, through Jing-Mei remarks to her mother, she believed that it was the high time that Suyuon lost all the hope about her success. Jing-Mei started becoming independent by making her own decisions. Consequently, on her thirteenth birthday, her mother offered her a piano, which she accepted seeing it as a peace offering having won her back.
Conclusively, the story "Two Kinds" gyrates about the story of a mother (Suyuan) and daughter (Jing-Mei) struggling with the American life. Suyuan wishes for her daughter to become independent by using all means to determine what pleased her in life. She enrolls her in the Chinese Shirley Temple, where Jing-Mei is passionate about singing and dancing rather than the acrobatics. She drops the Chinese Shirley, and her mother makes her join piano classes. Jing-Mei does not concentrate on her lessons and ends up performing badly in a talent show. Later, she confronts her mother and tells her to accept her fate in dying efforts to become independent. However, Suyuon realizes she cannot determine her daughter’s success and left her to make her own decisions till her death. Jing-Mei's independence struggles help her realize the mistake she made while performing the song "The Pleading Child" in front of the town and intends to become better in society.
Works Cited
Garner, Katherine. Two Kinds by Amy Tan: Theme " Analysis. 2018. Web. 19 10 2018. .
M. Critical Analysis of Two Kinds by Amy Tan. 7 2 2013. 18 10 2018. .
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. London: G.P Putnam's Sons, 1989. Print.
