The story focuses on two themes: the American Dream and the tension between mothers and daughters. Like many immigrants, Mrs. Woo believes in America’s promise: With hard work and a little luck, Jing-mei can be anything that she chooses to be.

What is the summary of Two Kinds by Amy Tan?

The story is about a young American girl born to Chinese parents; her mother pushes her to become a child prodigy, but the daughter resists. A powerful tale about pushy parents and their children, ‘Two Kinds’ deserves some closer analysis to tease out its meaning and significance.

What is the meaning of the ending of Two Kinds?

The ending makes us reflect on the whole story and lets us interpret it in a different way. After her mother’s death, Jing-mei begins to realize what her mother had wanted for her. She looks back over the music and discovers something that she hadn’t noticed before.

What is the moral of Two Kinds?

The moral, or theme, of “Two Kinds” is that when parents and their children do not communicate effectively, it causes terrible strife within the family setting and potentially harms relationships for years to come.

How does Jing-Mei change throughout the story?

As Jing-mei continues to look at herself, the “ordinary … sad, ugly girl” transforms into the “prodigy side” of herself, a girl who is “angry” and “powerful” (p. 134). This visual transformation is connected to Jing-mei’s changing attitude towards her mother’s expectations.

What does Jing-Mei realize at the end?

However, after her mother’s death, Jing-mei discovers that the song “Pleading Child,” which she struggled to learn as a child, is meant to be played alongside another half of the song, called “Perfectly Contented” (p. 144).

What is the main conflict in the story Two Kinds?

In the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the author creates a conflict between a Chinese mother and her daughter. The relationship between the mother who wanted her daughter to be prodigy, and her daughter who refused to be prodigy is presented (43).

How does the narrator feel about her mother’s life in China?

The narrator’s mother cares for her very much. The narrator was stuck in her own little bubble and did not realize how much her mom loved, cared, and sacrificed for her. Everything the mother did was in best interest for the narrator, not for her own personal pleasure.

How does Jing-Mei feel about not being a prodigy?

Terms in this set (10) Initially, how did Jing-Mei feel about becoming a prodigy? Initially, Jing-Mei liked the idea of becoming a child prodigy. She realized that its not what she wants to do, its her mother’s dream.

What does the piano symbolize in Two Kinds?

Jing-mei’s thirtieth birthday gift was the piano. She “saw the offer as a sign of forgiveness, a tremendous burden removed.” The piano represents reconciliation between mother and daughter. Jing-mei took it as a sign of acceptance and she later realized that her mother had never given up on her.

Is Two Kinds a true story?

“Two Kinds” is a short story from the book The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. It was first published in The Atlantic in February 1989. The short story outlines the main character Jing-mei (June) Woo’s childhood and the effects of her mother’s high expectations for her life. In 1993, a movie based on the book was made.

What is the relationship between Jing Mei and her mother at the start of the narrative?

Jing Mei realizes that it was only a mother’s love which drove her to make Jing Mei succeed. She understands that her mother only had good intentions for her at heart, although the outcome was not the desired effect.

Why does suyuan have such high hopes for her life in America?

Jing-Mei mother, Suyuan, comes to America after losing everything in China. When she came to America, this is where all her hoped lays. She believes that anything is possible and that America is the land of opportunity. Because of this, she has high hopes for Jing-Mei becoming a successful child prodigy.

Why is success so important to Jing Mei’s mother?

Why is success so important to Jing-Mei’s mother? Success is really important to Jing-Mei’s mother because she is so concerned about the success of her daughter that she doesn’t want her to suffer from what she has done. Maybe she’ll have a better life to achieve her American dream.