Two Kinds
Author Amy Tan gives a remarkable look in the story “Two Kinds” into the dynamics of a clash of culture in one family. At some points in the story, it is hard to tell the protagonist from the antagonist. The man vs man conflict between mother and daughter is dynamic as it flows between them. Another interesting conflict is the battle between “Ni Kan’s” and “Waverly”, in addition to her mother and “Auntie Lindo” struggle to prove which daughter is more talented. The conflict of man vs man between Ni Kan’s mother and Auntie Lindo is in direct correlation the man vs man between her mother and Auntie Lindo. Amy skillfully introduces Ni Kan as the narrator in the first person. The use of dialect by the older generation also assist with …show more content…
The use of the word prodigy directed at Ni Kan by her mother can be seen as direction, but also overbearing and selfish. The attempt of her mother to find a talent for Ni Kan to become a prodigy initially is well intended, however, Ni Kan fails with every attempt of her mother. This is where the man vs man conflict takes shape, and builds from there. Tan’s use of dialect of the mother reinforces Ni Kan’s displeasure in this endeavor. The phrase “You look like negro Chinese” (Tan, 1232), is one example of the differences between mother and daughter. The authors word choice and phrasing of the protagonist saying “I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be,” (1238) the idea of the increase in tension between mother and daughter. The juxtaposition of the exchange Ni Kan observed at the recital between Auntie Lindo and her mother inflamed her displeasure of her mother. Auntie Lindo mentions Waverly’s trophies, however she mentions them as a problem Ni Kan’s mother does not want. The protagonist decides she had enough when her mother responds with her inability to do chores for practicing her natural talent. During her revenge on her mother by destroying the piece she was playing, the protagonist realized the level of embarrassment she brought to the family. Her attempt to correct the mistake was useless by the simile of thinking her fingers would switch back like a train. The harshest example of the mother daughter struggle takes place when the protagonist changes into the antagonist during their last argument. Ni Kan knew she pushed her mother to a breaking point during this argument, she said she wanted to see her anger spill over. Ni Kan remembered the loss of a pair of older siblings in China, she interject that fact into the argument as she said she wish she was never born. The level of damage to her mother was evident with the use of the simile
Author Amy Tan gives a remarkable look in the story “Two Kinds” into the dynamics of a clash of culture in one family. At some points in the story, it is hard to tell the protagonist from the antagonist. The man vs man conflict between mother and daughter is dynamic as it flows between them. Another interesting conflict is the battle between “Ni Kan’s” and “Waverly”, in addition to her mother and “Auntie Lindo” struggle to prove which daughter is more talented. The conflict of man vs man between Ni Kan’s mother and Auntie Lindo is in direct correlation the man vs man between her mother and Auntie Lindo. Amy skillfully introduces Ni Kan as the narrator in the first person. The use of dialect by the older generation also assist with …show more content…
The use of the word prodigy directed at Ni Kan by her mother can be seen as direction, but also overbearing and selfish. The attempt of her mother to find a talent for Ni Kan to become a prodigy initially is well intended, however, Ni Kan fails with every attempt of her mother. This is where the man vs man conflict takes shape, and builds from there. Tan’s use of dialect of the mother reinforces Ni Kan’s displeasure in this endeavor. The phrase “You look like negro Chinese” (Tan, 1232), is one example of the differences between mother and daughter. The authors word choice and phrasing of the protagonist saying “I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be,” (1238) the idea of the increase in tension between mother and daughter. The juxtaposition of the exchange Ni Kan observed at the recital between Auntie Lindo and her mother inflamed her displeasure of her mother. Auntie Lindo mentions Waverly’s trophies, however she mentions them as a problem Ni Kan’s mother does not want. The protagonist decides she had enough when her mother responds with her inability to do chores for practicing her natural talent. During her revenge on her mother by destroying the piece she was playing, the protagonist realized the level of embarrassment she brought to the family. Her attempt to correct the mistake was useless by the simile of thinking her fingers would switch back like a train. The harshest example of the mother daughter struggle takes place when the protagonist changes into the antagonist during their last argument. Ni Kan knew she pushed her mother to a breaking point during this argument, she said she wanted to see her anger spill over. Ni Kan remembered the loss of a pair of older siblings in China, she interject that fact into the argument as she said she wish she was never born. The level of damage to her mother was evident with the use of the simile