Two Kinds by Amy Tan Short Story Analysis

Often, one’s expectations may not unfold as predicted. Whenever one's dream is not realized, disappointment will surely follow. A mother dreams of the perfect future for her children, however, these dreams may not coincide with reality. For example, in the novel ‘Two Kinds’, Amy Tan’s mother expected her to blossom into a prodigy child. Tan echoed that sentiment by stating, “my mother thought I could be a Chinese Shirley Temple.” Simply put, the more that Amy’s mother pulled in one direction, the more Amy ventured toward a different path. Tan realized she will never embody the daughter her mother dreamed of and, in turn, stopped trying to please her. This story explores the various ways that mothers and daughters (parent and child) relate to each other as the daughters (Child) are struggling to forge their place in the world. 

Generally, parents, especially mothers, strive to provide the best that life can offer to their children in light of their own past life experiences. Often, parents make decisions without consulting their children or considering how they feel. When parents unintentionally place pressure on their children, the children may feel obliged to fulfill the roles that their parents outlined to satisfy them. Infrequent communication between parents and their children will result in the children growing resentful of them. Communication with children is therefore crucial to the development of the parent-child relationship.

Conversely, my relationship with my mother parallels Amy's with her mother. Apart from our height difference, my mother and I are evidently different. I am timid and indecisive when it comes to making even the simplest decisions, while my mother is confident and headstrong. My mother envisioned her only daughter as a carbon copy of herself; however, as I am an entirely different person from my mother, I do not have the same interests she does. For instance, since my mother was already married in her early twenties, she expects the same of me. No matter how many arranged marriages she plans for me, my current mindset is not focused on men. Moreover, considering she grew up as the youngest in a house with free-spirited parents, my mother developed a sense of identity at a young age as opposed to myself, who only has a general concept of a sense of self that is not edged in stone. 

Furthermore, an individual’s identity is something that is developed over time. Some of us know from childhood our purpose on this planet; other people experience an epiphany while in the shower, and others have drifted aimlessly through various personas throughout their lives. People can forge their own identity in the world through learning and experiencing new things. For instance, parents expect teenagers to have their college and career plans all neatly laid out, folded, and pressed straight from the wash before leaving high school. On the contrary, how is a high school student supposed to know what they want to do if all they have ever done is what their parents want them to do? Students need to experience life to know what they want to do on their own. One prudent method for these such students to begin exploring the workforce is through internships, because it is an opportunity for real-world exposure, helps begin to develop interpersonal skills, and a newfound sense of responsibility. These skills are vital when answering doubts that persist in a mother-child relationship.

If you are stuck in an unhealthy relationship with a parent, the decision to change is yours alone. Rise above your comfort level and take the initiative to take control of your life. Do not be too concerned about being disrespectful when you confront your parents, because they may not see how serious the situation is. Moreover, at the end of the day, they raised you not for themselves to live your life, but so they could wish you the best in all your endeavors. A bond that exists between parent and child is often tested and the result is dependent on the relationship between both parties. Any relationship requires work and patience, hopefully, you will believe that your relationship is important enough to work for.