In "Two Kinds," why is the daughter at first excited about her mother's ambitions for her?
To understand why the daughter in "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan is initially excited about her mother's ambitions for her, it is important to analyze the story itself. "Two Kinds" follows the story of Jing-Mei, a young Chinese-American girl, and her complex relationship with her mother.
In the story, Jing-Mei's mother desires her daughter to become a prodigy and excel in various activities, such as playing the piano, chess, and becoming a math whiz. Initially, Jing-Mei is excited about her mother's ambitions for a few reasons:
1. Desire for Approval: Jing-Mei wants to please her mother and make her proud. She believes that if she succeeds in becoming a prodigy, her mother will be pleased and give her the much-needed affirmation and attention.
2. Sense of Identity: In Jing-Mei's Chinese-American household, where her mother's Chinese roots heavily influence their lives, becoming a prodigy is seen as a way to embrace and solidify her cultural identity. By excelling in these activities, Jing-Mei believes she can connect more deeply with her Chinese heritage.
3. Dreams of Stardom: Jing-Mei imagines herself as a famous prodigy, performing on grand stages and receiving recognition and admiration from others. She is captivated by the idea of achieving greatness and wants to experience the glamour that comes with it.
Overall, Jing-Mei's initial excitement about her mother's ambitions stems from her desire for approval, search for identity, and dreams of fame and success. However, as the story progresses, she begins to question these expectations and discovers her own desires and passions, leading to a conflict with her mother.
In "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan, the daughter at first becomes excited about her mother's ambitions for her because she believes that she can be a prodigy. Her mother shows great enthusiasm and determination in finding her talent, and the daughter wants to please and make her mother proud. Additionally, she sees other prodigies on television and believes that she can achieve the same level of success, leading to her initial excitement.
Is this the article you were assigned to read?
https://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/319/TwoKindsfulltext.pdf
What do you think?