You have read Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" and the short story "Two kinds by Amy Tan. Think about how the authors create and develop the themes in each text. Identify a similar theme in two texts. Write an essay where you compare and contrast how both authors develop this theme. Support your response with evidence from both texts.
Title: Persistence in Overcoming Life's Challenges
Introduction:
Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" and Amy Tan's short story "Two Kinds" both explore the theme of persistence in overcoming life's challenges. Through different literary techniques and perspectives, both authors convey the importance of determination and resilience in confronting the obstacles that life presents. This essay will compare and contrast how Hughes and Tan develop this theme in their respective works, using evidence from the texts to support the analysis.
Body Paragraph 1: Hughes's "Mother to Son"
In "Mother to Son," Hughes employs the metaphor of a staircase to symbolize the various struggles and hardships one encounters throughout life. The mother's advice to her son, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair," emphasizes the difficult journey she has faced (Hughes). Through the use of dialect, the poem presents a powerful image of a resilient mother who has persisted despite challenges. This image conveys the theme of persistence, as the mother encourages her son not to give up, but to keep climbing the "stair" of life with determination. The repetition of the phrase, "Don’t you fall now," further reinforces the message of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Body Paragraph 2: Tan's "Two Kinds"
Similarly, in "Two Kinds," Tan explores the theme of persistence through the eyes of a young Chinese-American girl named Jing-Mei. The story illustrates the clash between her mother's high expectations and her own desire for self-expression. Jing-Mei's mother pushes her to become a prodigy, representing the cultural expectation of success. However, the constant pressure and failed attempts at meeting her mother's standards lead Jing-Mei to rebel, abandoning her musical talent. Nevertheless, Jing-Mei's encounter with the piano years later sparks her realization that she can persistently cultivate her own identity and reconnect with her cultural roots. This transformation demonstrates the power of persistence and self-discovery, as Jing-Mei finally realizes that "sometimes you just have to play the piece," even if it is imperfect (Tan).
Body Paragraph 3: Comparison of Themes
Both "Mother to Son" and "Two Kinds" emphasize the universal theme of persistence while presenting different perspectives and forms of adversity. In Hughes's poem, the theme centers on the challenges of life in general, encompassing struggles faced by individuals of all backgrounds. This broad scope allows readers to connect with the poem's central message of perseverance in surmounting difficulties. On the other hand, Tan's story focuses on the theme of persistence within the realm of cultural expectations and self-discovery. The protagonist's journey represents the struggles of individuals caught between their own desires and the expectations of their families and society. Despite the divergent contexts, both texts emphasize that overcoming obstacles requires determination, tenacity, and a refusal to succumb to adversity.
Conclusion:
Through the careful development of characters, metaphors, and perspectives, Langston Hughes and Amy Tan effectively convey the theme of persistence in overcoming life's challenges in their respective works. "Mother to Son" illustrates the resilience required to navigate the general hardships of life, while "Two Kinds" explores the perseverance needed to reconcile cultural expectations with personal goals. By comparing and contrasting these texts, one can appreciate the power of determination in confronting adversity, regardless of its manifestations. Both Hughes and Tan's works serve as a reminder that life's journeys are filled with obstacles, but with perseverance, one can overcome and achieve personal growth and fulfillment.