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The Development Of The American Dream In 'Two Kinds'

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Generation after generation, from the early ancient civilizations to the modern day, twenty-first century world, the society has deprived countless individuals of their inner self, forcing many to lock away their creativity and individuality deep within themselves. In the short story “Two Kinds”, Jing-Mei, a Chinese-American girl, struggles with independence and the development of her identity. As the story advances, Jing-Mei learns how to balance her mother’s wants with her own needs. The story is set in an American-Asian immigrant family, with Jing-Mei’s mother pressuring Jing-Mei with the heavy burdens of her own childhood, which had been spent back in China where she blamed her incompetence in life all on the nonexistence of the “American Dream”. …show more content…

Chong for piano lessons and practice, in expectation of complete success at a talent show. As a result of her ignorance, Jing-Mei dwindles in her rigorously long hours confined to the piano bench, and in rebellion to her mother’s irrational standards, performs egregiously. Shortly after the incident, mother and daughter quarrel ferociously and disown the family ties. Nothing mends until years later, when Jing-Mei’s mother offers her the very piano she had practiced on in her miserable childhood, symbolizing peace between the jostled family that had never been set right. In the realistic short story “Two Kinds by Amy Tan, Jing-Mei’s mother does not allow Jing-Mei to stay true to herself by forcing her to take challenging tests, pushing her to play piano, and arguing about what kind of daughter she

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As Jing-mei’s mother is telling her that she has to go play piano, the reader can imagine how she gets more and more angry as her daughter disregards what she is saying. Finally, the narrator emphasizes to the reader how the relationship between Jing-mei and her mother deteriorates more and more as time

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The Roaring Twenties was a time of drastic reform; both in social regards and many others. One of the many things that had been born from the twenties is undoubtedly the American Experience. To people at the time, the term American Experience meant a plethora of things. It was a term that was unique to each individual, and stood for their goal, or maybe the lack thereof, or perhaps it stood for their own character and defined their whole life. Regardless, the American Experience was entirely adaptable; writing from the many authors that stemmed from this time had proved that to be true.

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The Rebellious Daughter: Analyzing the Theme of Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds” The story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan explores the deep familial emotions between a mother and her daughter. Jing-Mei’s mother had left China to come to America after losing her family, and had been raising Jing-Mei in America with her second husband. Despite her mother’s grand hopes for Jing-Mei to become successful in America by becoming a child prodigy, Jing-Mei did not share the same opinions.

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Annotated Bibliography, The American dream Ştiuliuc, Diana. "The American Dream As The Cultural Expression Of North American Identity." Philologica Jassyensia 7.2 (2011): 363-370. Academic Search Complete. Web.

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In Amy Tans story “Two Kinds” The author argues that not everybody is the same, and some want to obey and some want to pursue something they more interested in instead of something somebody else want them to do. The story says “Those who are obedient and those who follow their own minds” (tan pg. 412). This paper will analyze Tan story from the viewpoints of the daughter who wanted to follow her own dream, become something better, and grow out her mother grip. The narrator of "Two Kinds" is a Chinese American Girl who is in a constant struggle with her mother over her identity.

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The 1830’s was full of hopes and dreams, according to John Downe America in his letter to his wife. Downe explains to his wife what it's like to be living the American Dream. He portrays America as a place of “equality” and “liberty”. He reassures his wife that it is a safe place, as he is the one experiencing the United States himself. Downe also attempts to convince his wife by assuring her of the most basic need, food for herself and her kids.

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What is the American Dream? The American Dream can be described by many as their life goals. In John Steinbeck’s book, “Of Mice and Men”, the Great American Dream has a different meaning to everyone as it depends on the person who is dreaming of a life goal. Some ways it is described in Steinbeck’s book is owning a small portion of the United States, or becoming an actress, or even just equality between humans. However, for some people, that is just too much to ask.

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Perspective is how a person interprets others and the world in its entirety, it influences every aspect of a person's life. In the narrative Two Kinds by Amy Tan , the poem Legal Alien by Pat Mora, and the memoir By Any Other Name by Santha Ram Rau the authors demonstrate with the use of rhetorical devices, how the main characters perspectives of the world are immensely influenced by their cultures. The internal conflict embedded within a person's culture can effect their thoughts. The author Amy Tan shows this with her character Jing-Mei with the use of diction when she looked at herself in the mirror thinking how she is " Such a sad, ugly girl! "

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Jennifer L. Hochschild describes the American dream as “the soul of the nation.” She clearly illustrates the importance of the dream to American culture. So, what is the American dream according to Hochschild? She was referring to John Locke and his fantasy, then said “But the sentence evokes the unsullied newness, infinite possibility, limitless resources that are commonly understood to be the essences of the “American dream.” She also pointed out the flaws in the American dream and how at times the pursuit of it can lead to counterproductive outcomes not just for the individual but society as a whole.

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Lastly, the speaker uses tone to reflect the disbelief of “The American Dream”. Hazel felt like fairy-tales are just dreams and there is a difference between dreams and reality. For example, “tryin ta climb” (7 & 8). Hazel symbolizes society’s representation of women in the past; uneducated, un-ambitious, and un-believing in themselves or others. Also, “Sohelpmegod” (10).

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“Two Kinds” a short story out of Amy Tan’s book “The Joy Luck Club” is a representation of the pressures immigrant children face from their parents. In the story, we follow a young girl named Jing-Mei as she embarks down the road to becoming a Prodigy. Her mother believed that “you could be anything you wanted to be in America” (Tan). For Jing-Mei that meant her mother believed she could become instantly famous. “Of course, you can be a prodigy, too”, her mother told her (Tan).

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No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important

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Over the years, a dream that changed the way the world saw the U.S. was created and it is the American Dream. As the years passed and the U.S. was developing the American Dream as well developed or as many say changed. The American Dream is a term that was introduced in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America (Kamp 2). The term “American Dream” started with a meaning that was reachable: “a better, richer and happier life for all citizens of every rank”(3). Throughout the years the term`s meaning changed dramatically.

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The American Dream begins with an affordable living arrangement and a good job, but with remorse, these two pieces are not connecting (Thompson, 2014). A college graduate can expect expensive housing with a job not reflective of the high housing price. In an article published in The Atlantic, “Why it’s So Hard for Millennials to Find a Place to Live and Work” Derek Thompson talks about the inequality between upward mobility and the housing market. For example, Dayton has one of the most affordable housing markets in the United States, however unlike California there is no social mobility (Thompson, 2014). The American dream is different for everyone and changes the course of action an individual may take.

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From the very beginning, America has been a symbol of freedom. Many Europeans went there trying to achieve it. That is the case of the Pilgrim Fathers, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean escaping from religious oppression in the 17th century. They firmly believed that in this continent they would be able to start a new life. Besides, the United States of America was the first country in the world who became independent from the European power.

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