Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks" and Naomi Shihab Nye's "Museum" are both humorous stories with an underlying lesson. In Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks," Tan relays an experience from her 14-year-old self. Tan had a crush on the pastor's son at this time. Tan was Chinese and the pastor's son was not. It just so happens that the pastor and his family was invited to Tan's home for charismas dinner. Tan's Chinese family had traditional foods and showed their traditional manners. Tan explained that her family liked to double dip their chopsticks and Tan's father dug the cheek meat from a fish to try and feed her. Tan was extremely embarrassed. Once the family left, Tan's mother told her that she will always have her heritage and that there is no reason to be ashamed
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Nye displays this in the end of her essay when the woman came to talk to her thirty years later. The woman explained, "'...I never felt lucky before. You thought... [my home] ...was a museum...'" (Nye 80). Nye ends her essay with a lesson about being happy with what one has. The woman realized that what she had was special. At times, individuals seem to forget that what they have is better than what their neighbor has. There will always be someone who has less. The reader learns a valuable lesson on contentment. At the same time Nye comments on the effect mistakes, even small ones, have on others. The teenager changed her entire outlook after Nye came to her house (80). Every little mistake has a consequence. While consequence has a negative connotation, it may be something good and positive. The reader may come to realize that they affect other's lives in unexpected ways. On the other hand, Tan tells a different story. At the end of the story, Tan's mother expressed, "'But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only Shame is to have shame'" (75). Tan's mother explains that she cannot change who she is and where she comes from, but she should be proud of her heritage. Being different is scary, especially to a young teenager. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere with their peers and sometimes you cannot change what makes you different. Accepting what one looks like or an individual's heritage is important for happiness. The reader can come away with a newfound respect for where, what, and who they came from. Tan shares another message, that of love of family and tradition. It was Tan's family, especially her mother, who helped her to appreciate her heritage. Although her family and their traditions embarrassed her greatly, she came to love and appreciate them. Culture and tradition bring family together.
Nye displays this in the end of her essay when the woman came to talk to her thirty years later. The woman explained, "'...I never felt lucky before. You thought... [my home] ...was a museum...'" (Nye 80). Nye ends her essay with a lesson about being happy with what one has. The woman realized that what she had was special. At times, individuals seem to forget that what they have is better than what their neighbor has. There will always be someone who has less. The reader learns a valuable lesson on contentment. At the same time Nye comments on the effect mistakes, even small ones, have on others. The teenager changed her entire outlook after Nye came to her house (80). Every little mistake has a consequence. While consequence has a negative connotation, it may be something good and positive. The reader may come to realize that they affect other's lives in unexpected ways. On the other hand, Tan tells a different story. At the end of the story, Tan's mother expressed, "'But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only Shame is to have shame'" (75). Tan's mother explains that she cannot change who she is and where she comes from, but she should be proud of her heritage. Being different is scary, especially to a young teenager. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere with their peers and sometimes you cannot change what makes you different. Accepting what one looks like or an individual's heritage is important for happiness. The reader can come away with a newfound respect for where, what, and who they came from. Tan shares another message, that of love of family and tradition. It was Tan's family, especially her mother, who helped her to appreciate her heritage. Although her family and their traditions embarrassed her greatly, she came to love and appreciate them. Culture and tradition bring family together.