"Two Kinds" is a short story from the book "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan. The story is about a young Chinese-American girl named Jing-mei, who struggles with her identity and her relationship with her Chinese mother, Suyuan. Jing-mei's mother believes that she can turn her daughter into a prodigy and fulfill the American Dream, but Jing-mei resists and ultimately rebels against her mother's expectations.
At the beginning of the story, Suyuan tells Jing-mei about the "two kinds" of daughters: the obedient and the rebellious. Suyuan wants Jing-mei to be the former, but Jing-mei is more drawn to the latter. This conflict between obedience and rebellion is a central theme in the story, as Jing-mei grapples with her own desires and her mother's expectations.
One of the main conflicts in the story is the cultural gap between Jing-mei and her mother. Suyuan is a first-generation immigrant from China and has a very different worldview from Jing-mei, who was born and raised in America. Suyuan is deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and values, and she wants Jing-mei to embrace her heritage and succeed in the American Dream. Jing-mei, on the other hand, is more Americanized and feels a disconnect from her Chinese heritage. This cultural gap causes tension between Jing-mei and her mother, as Jing-mei resists her mother's attempts to mold her into a prodigy.
Another conflict in the story is the struggle for independence and autonomy. Jing-mei wants to forge her own path and make her own decisions, but her mother wants her to conform to her expectations. This tension is exemplified in the piano lessons, which Jing-mei takes up at her mother's insistence but quickly becomes resentful of. Jing-mei's rebellion against her mother's expectations is a natural response to the pressure she feels to conform.
In the end, Jing-mei and her mother reach a compromise. Jing-mei agrees to play the piano at her mother's church, but on her own terms. This resolution shows that Jing-mei has found a way to assert her independence while still respecting her mother's wishes. It also suggests that Jing-mei has come to a greater understanding and appreciation of her Chinese heritage, as she is able to embrace her culture on her own terms.
Overall, "Two Kinds" is a poignant and thought-provoking story about the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, and the struggle to find one's own identity in the face of cultural and familial expectations. It explores themes of obedience and rebellion, cultural identity, and the search for independence, and ultimately suggests that finding a balance between these competing forces is key to finding happiness and fulfillment.
