High Expectations In Two Kinds, By Amy Tan

The entire concept of expectations can be seen in many different ways, but everyone's specific expectation is what keeps them moving every day in a lane. For example, some people expect themselves to get the highest paying jobs they can get, or try to expect to have a stress-free life by just living in their parent’s basement. Whatever the expectation is, it will always change how we act and live. Some people might have very high expectations either from themselves or from others, and that can cause a great deal of damage as it can make your whole life’s purpose to reach that expectation. Considering that high expectations can cause damage, in the short story “Two kinds” the author Amy Tan uses the story to show what high expectations can

The main character of the story, Jing-Mei, is expected to become the next great prodigy and gets forced by her mother, Mrs. Woo, to become a prodigy no matter what in which Jing-mei doesn’t want to take any part in, ultimately causing her not to like her mom and her mom being disappointed in her creating a complex relationship due to the different perspectives. From the use of stylistic devices such as Imagery along with a great deal of symbolism, Tan emphasizes the need for everyone to set realistic and necessary expectations for themselves accordingly to find their own identity. Clearly shown in the story, Jing-Mei and Mrs. Woo have different perspectives of each other as they both act like opposites. Tan uses stylistic devices such as symbolism to convey deeper meaning and explore the complex relationships between mother and daughter. The first and most important encounter with symbolism could be the Piano lessons that Mrs. Woo enrolled Jing in. “Three days after watching the Ed Sullivan Show my mother told me what my schedule would be for piano lessons and piano practice…When my mother told me this, I felt as though I had been sent to hell. I whined, and then kicked my foot a little when I couldn't stand

The imagery was shown to a great extent when Jing had to perform a song during the talent show and it went south. “I kept thinking they would adjust themselves back, like a train switching to the right track. I played this strange jumble through the end, the sour notes staying with me all the way..and its dissonant notes creating an unpleasant sound. " (Tan, 4). Jing was thrown into the talent show and found some of the music "unfamiliar and strange" which conveys Jing-mei's sense of confusion and discomfort as she tries to play a piece that is not suited to her abilities or preferences. The dissonant notes also represent the discord between Jing-mei's desires and her mother's expectations. Jing was not as prepared for the competition because she simply didn't care enough when she was getting taught as it says, “He taught me all these things, and that was how I also learned I could be lazy and get away with mistakes, lots of mistakes. If I hit the wrong notes because I hadn't practiced enough, I never corrected myself, I just kept playing in rhythm. And Old Chong kept conducting his own private reverie” (Tan, pg 3). She was starting to go her own way and not listen to her mother as she was starting to find her own identity and her mother did not support it because she had a completely different perspective compared to Jing.