When was two kinds by amy tan written

They have an exchange that echoes their views on Jing-mei's potential for genius. She doesn't take the piano right away, but appreciates the offer. Last week, Jing-mei had the piano tuned. Her mother had died a few months before.

She helps her dad get things in order. She takes a few old Chinese silk dresses home. She tries the piano. She opens the piece she had played at the recital. It comes back to her quickly. She also plays the piece on the right side of the page. She realizes they're two halves of the same song. The story establishes this theme in its first sentence: "My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America.

All this opportunity is in stark contrast to her life in China, pre She suffered through World War II, enduring the loss of her parents and first husband and a near-fatal bout of dysentery. Her sickness led her to abandon her twin baby daughters in the hope it would give them a chance to live. Despite saying there were various things a person could do in America, Jing-mei's mother, heavily influenced by American TV and magazines, only wants her to be a prodigy.

She doesn't care what Jing-mei excels at, as long as she becomes the best at it and famous from it. The potential for fame and achievement only seems to apply to Jing-mei. Her mother doesn't have these aspirations for herself or her husband.

Jing-mei's mother wants to live the American dream through her daughter. The main conflict between Jing-mei and her mother is over her identity, who she is and who she will become. Her mother wants her to be a prodigy. She makes it her aim to find the area where Jing-mei will excel. At first, Jing-mei's enthusiasm at least equals her mother's.

This changes after the long series of nightly tests, all of which she fails: "I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations. This is when Jing-mei first decides to assert herself: "I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not. Jing-mei resists her mother's influence from this point on. She coasts through her piano lessons, doing only what's needed to get by.

We see evidence that the mother doesn't accept who her daughter really is when she lies to Lindo Jong about Jing-mei's passion for music. This strengthens the girl's resolve to prove her mother wrong. Her embarrassing performance is the catalyst for their final confrontation.

Jing-mei's hurtful reference to her dead half-sisters moves her mother to give up her aspirations. In the end, Jing-mei "wins" the battle and is able to be herself. Neither Jing-mei's path of least resistance nor her mother's extreme expectations are balanced. Rather than embracing the many opportunities available in America, the mother only wants her daughter to be a famous prodigy. This outrageous expectation is "so large that failure was inevitable. Likewise, Jing-mei's lack of effort guaranteed another kind of failure.

She intentionally sabotaged her progress on the piano. It's noteworthy that when the time for the recital came, she wanted the reward that a great performance would bring. She didn't need to be a prodigy to play well, she only needed to put in enough work. The mother's lack of moderation is also shown in her view that there are only two kinds of daughters: those who obey and those who don't. There's no middle ground. See question 3, below.

Although Jing-mei "wins" the right to be herself, she starts to see herself as an underachiever. It's certainly possible that she developed a pattern of withholding her full effort just to prove she could. It's easy to imagine how moderate expectations and a fair work ethic could have helped Jing-mei to do very well in any number of areas. She sits down at the piano and plays the song, realizing that it wasn't as difficult as she perceived it to be when she was young.

She then realizes that the two sheets of music, titled "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented," are two halves of the same song. As a result Mulan proves to Kingston that women can do anything men can. In reality, Kingston does not know how to face her mother, who repeatedly crushes her dreams of becoming who she wants to be. Brave Orchid even makes fun of her own daughter for trying to follow her dreams. Kingston looks up to Mulan to determine how to face her problems of the Chinese culture.

Kingston learns that in order go against the cultural norms, she must first go against her mother, the main cause for her suffering in America. This talk-story ghost of her aunt cannot be taken for granted because it brings disgrace to the family and this is why her mother exposed her to it from a young age.

Another ghost thing that bothers Maxine while growing is that. There daughters were always ashamed of and resented their mothers, especially while they were young.

The daughters felt this way because of the way their mothers raised them. The mothers were very hard on their daughters, and pushed them towards successful, sometimes causing their daughter to feel overwhelmed. The mothers wanted their daughters to keep their Chinese heritage and culture, but also take advantage of the opportunities they have in America. Jing-Mei, as many young people, believed that what their parents want for them in the future would not become real.

As a result, she refuses to cooperate with her mother. What I liked about this story is that it reflects how most mother-daughter relationships are. Most of these relationships are complicated since each person has their own tastes, expectations, and plans.

People can feel identified with what Jing-Mei is feeling, as well as with the relationships that Jing-Mei and her mother have.

I myself related to this story and finally understood that I am not the only one feeling this way. May 16, Regina rated it really liked it Shelves: english9. This story centers around the life of an American-Chinese young girl, called Jing-Mei, and her struggle to live up to her mother's standards.

Furthermore, it has different types of conflicts and gives symbolism a very important role throughout its progression. The story's plot unfolds when young Jing-Mei notices her mother's great desire for her to become a prodigy in something. From the moment the story starts, her mother puts a lot of pressure on the young girl and pushes her to her limits, to the point where Jing-Mei breaks.

Once this happens, the climax of the story begins to approach as Jing-Mei's rebellion against her mother increases. Jing-Mei felt as if she was never good enough for her mother; I can relate to this on a personal level. Sometimes, no matter what we do or how hard we try, we may not be good enough. When this happens, disappointment rises through our chest and crushes it; I know, it is a terrible feeling.

I think this is what Jing-Mei felt constantly: not being good enough. However, if you wish to know what this is, you will simply have to read it for yourself. May 21, Andres Gutierrez added it Shelves: interesting , amy-tan , drama. Two Kinds a weird but interesting story. When I started reading this book, I thought it was really boring because it did not have any theme that amused me but as I kept reading I started to find interest in the main character's reasons or motives to stop changing like her mother wanted her to.

I found this story unique due to the way it builds up the tension through the whole story and then releases it in a particular way that is very enjoyable. Two Kinds is a story about a daughter and a mother Two Kinds a weird but interesting story. Two Kinds is a story about a daughter and a mother who have different opinions on what Jing Mei, the daughter should do with her life in their current situations.

The anger between both of them increases through the story until it gets out of control and the conflict finally comes to an end by a spoiler: view spoiler [significant discussion that occurs near the end. She is a very interesting character because she ends up being a different person at the end of the story making it interesting to see how she changes in the story. I gave this story a 4 out 5 star rating because I think that it had a good trauma, and a good ending that helped the story show its meaning not only from the title but also from the story itself and what it wanted to project.

The story in general teaches you that you have appreciate whatever you have because it can be gone at any moment and that you should take any opportunities that come your way. May 21, Romina rated it liked it. Two Kinds is a short story written by Amy Tan. It is based on the life of a Chinese girl living in America called Jing-Mei. Jing-Mei and her mother are constantly fighting because she is not who her mother wants her to be.

However, towards the end of the story, Jing-Mei makes a choice about who to be. Jing-Mei's mother, because of the tragedies she went through in the past, went to America to seek for better opportunities and a better life. She only wants the best for her daughter and is hop Two Kinds is a short story written by Amy Tan. She only wants the best for her daughter and is hoping she becomes a prodigy and the best version of herself in whatever she does.

Nevertheless, Jing-Mei is tired of trying to please her mother and live up to her high standards. Jing-Mei had to live with her mother's pressure every day and she started to feel like she wasn't good at anything. This is why she decided to just be herself, even if she wasn't good enough, at least she was herself and not someone she wasn't.

Jing-Mei told herself, "I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not". She wasn't going to be someone she wasn't just because of her mother.

The title of this short story Two Kinds , symbolizes two things. The first symbolism is the two kinds of daughter there are: obedient daughters and rebellious daughters. The second symbolism is emphasized towards the end of the story, which you will have to read to find out. Personally, I think the best message this story is trying to give is to be yourself. Even if you're not enough for someone else, the important thing is only to be enough for you. Don't try to be someone you're not just to live up to someone else's expectations.

May 21, Daniela added it. I couldn't relate with it, my relationship with my mother is very different. In my opinion, this story was boring and interesting at the same time. It left me with very interested in many parts of the story.

Jin-Mei being the narrator made the story even more interesting. The two stories Amy Tan created are written by Americanized daughters. The story was mainly about Jing-Mei's mother wanting her to become a prodigy.

Plenty of conflicts arise through the story. As the story goes on, Jing- Mei realized that her mother wanted her to be a pianist and not a ballerina. From this moment on, the problems began. Jing-Mei refused to play the piano, she didn't like it. Amy Tan actually wanted to make the reader realize that mothers always want the best for their children because they love them.

Even Though mothers sometimes get disappointed at their children, they will always see the best from them. Jing-Mei's mother wanted Jing-Mei to be the best at piano. Her mother wanted Jing-Mei to be an obedient daughter.

Feb 28, Sohailla Noor rated it really liked it. Two Kinds, written by Amy Tan, is a very intriguing short story, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great story. It is centered around a mother and daughter that have moved from China to America. The mother is very persistent on having the daughter follow the American Dream and making her a prodigy. The daughter eventually snaps at the mother, which changes their whole relationship.

But because they have moved to a place with more opportunities, there is more of an expectation of her to become someone important and be the best. For example, Tan had some feuds with her mother in real life, just like how in The Joy Luck Club and Two Kinds has these recurring themes.

Every time I read one of her stories, I feel the emotion and can relate in some way to the characters, which makes reading the story a whole other experience.

Overall, I would really recommend anyone to read this story, especially if you have read The Joy Luck Club.

Apr 28, Anika added it Shelves: reading-like-a-writer. Amy Tan used descriptive language to tell the story of a mother and daughter at war. The mother wanted nothing but the best for her child. The daughter was unmotivated and failed to understand her mother's motive demanding she be better than she was.

The family owned a piano which stood by as a by-stander to the conflicts between the mother and the child. The language used in the story is so descriptive that in my mind's eye I could see the mother and daughter change after each disappointment.

T Amy Tan used descriptive language to tell the story of a mother and daughter at war. The mother in Two Kinds left China for America with nothing but hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. The mother wanted her American born daughter to become a prodigy. The mother did not stop to consider what the daughter wanted for her own life. This conflict is clearly described by Tan's use of descriptive language and imagery.

At the close of Two Kinds we see the daughter return home to the house where she rebelled. The daughter is now an adult and can appreciate the mother. At this juncture the daughter that she is more like her mother than she is different from her mother. As a future teacher to help students see my words, I will use descriptive language. The careful use of words to create a picture in the mind's eye to tell a story of hurt, disappointment and love, can be achieved with the skillful use of descriptive language.

May 18, Maria Rivera rated it it was ok Shelves: my-teacher-made-me-read-it. It has a lot of detail and a lot of emphasis on this girl named Jing-Mei whether she is or not a prodigy. The story will talk about how her mother believes her daughter is a prodigy; she will set high standards and push her so that she achieves it.

Jing-Mei goes through a lot of stress trying to please her mother because at the end of the day, she is her mother and will want the best for her daughter. For me this story was ok because as I stated "is a long story short"; they went through too much conflicts that it was not short.

Throughout the story, the struggles undo themselves. The conflicts presented are: Man vs. Continuing to clean houses, Mrs. Woo scrapes together enough money to buy a secondhand piano. A few weeks later, Jing-mei participates in a talent show in a church hall. All the couples from the Joy Luck Club come to her piano debut.

Although she has not practiced and does not know the music, Jing-mei has come to believe that she is indeed a prodigy. Halfway through the song, though, she begins to realize how badly she is playing.

The weak applause and her parents' disappointed looks reveal the unmistakable truth: Jing-mei is not a musical prodigy. As a result, Jing-mei is shocked when her mother expects her to continue practicing. During the ensuing quarrel, Jing-mei shouts the most hateful thing she can summon: "I wish I'd never been born! I wish I were dead!

Like them! Woo suddenly retreats and never mentions the piano again. As a result, Jing-mei is shocked when her mother offers her the piano as a thirtieth birthday present. Only after her mother's death can Jing-mei accept the piano. As she is packing her mother's things, she sits down to play the piano for the first time in many years. The story focuses on two themes: the American Dream and the tension between mothers and daughters.

Like many immigrants, Mrs. Woo believes in America's promise: With hard work and a little luck, Jing-mei can be anything that she chooses to be. Jing-mei will not have to undergo any of her mother's hardships — the terror and privations of war, the tragedy of losing children, and the difficulties of settling in a new culture. It is not enough that Jing-mei be merely successful, however.