The Red Headed Hawaiian Analysis

438 Words2 Pages

There are two kinds of people, the people who persist and try without giving up, and the people who make up excuses for why they aren't doing anything. In the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, and the biography “The Red Headed Hawaiian” by Chris McKinney, the characters and people show culture by going back on what they know, and their traditions. In these two stories, it takes about how Jing-Mei and Rudy Puana are trying to find confidence and having to adapt to a new culture.

Rudy Puana in “The Red Headed Hawaiian” struggles with trying to adapt to the new culture of the mainland, while also keeping his Hawaiian culture. The culture on the mainland is more family oriented, with family dinners every night. While in Hawaii they grab dinner and run to the T.V. “During childhood, we were still a week behind the mainland when it comes to TV, and three years behind when it comes to just about everything else.” (Page 55) Hawaii is always behind the mainland, and they are completely off style with the mainland. Just like “The Red Headed Hawaiian” by Chris McKinney, Jing-Mei from “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan has struggles and problems adapting. …show more content…

Jing-Mei comes from China and Chinese background has to adapt comfortably with being in American culture. “Only two kinds of daughters, those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind; only one kind of daughter can live in this house, obedient daughter.” What I interpret from this text is that the obedient daughter in Jing-Mei's mother’s case is the Chinese daughter, while the daughter who follows their own mind is the American daughter. The mother wants Jing-Mei to be the obedient daughter. Culture can detrimentally change a