Two Kinds Literary Analysis

Mothers love their children unconditionally and would do anything for their children’s stability. Mothers do anything possible to provide their kids what they once dreamed but could not afford or achieve. However, some mothers might not face reality and think their ideas are similar to their children's needs; sometimes it is possible, at times it may not be, and then tensions occur. Mrs. Suyuan Woo, a character in the short story, “Two Kinds,” by Amy Tan, introduced as high life expectative, perfectionist, and obsessive mother in search her family’s American dream.

With high expectations of life, Mrs. Woo believed her daughter could do anything she wanted in America: “You can be best anything,” (Tan 471) It was lovely how Mrs. Woo encouraged

Woo not only had high life expectations, but she also dreamed the perfect competitive daughter. Mrs. Woo focused on how she wanted her daughter to perform in society; leaving behind her daughter’s expectations. Mrs. Woo wanted her daughter to reflect what she could not accomplish in her times, possibly she had limited resources while growing up, maybe her parents did not dedicate her enough time to visualize her needs, or supported her dreams. She pictured herself being the mother of a prodigy girl, she wanted people’s attention on her; in somehow feel important and pride. Mrs. Woo's desire created a mother-daughter conflict. Her ambitions made the daughter felt trapped by her mother expectations of the ideal girl, by not leading her daughter to express her ideas. Besides, not supporting her from a failure such as the piano talent show, “But my mother’s expression was what devastated me: a quiet, blank look that said she had lost everything.” (Tan 478) Mrs. Woo overwhelmed feeling created both mother-daughter tense environment. Mrs. Woo was obsessed for having a prodigy daughter. She tried molding her daughter into an actress, a pianist, a young lady with high scholar skills; she tried intellectual tests clipped from popular magazines. Unfortunately, it failed, “ Why don’t you like me the way I am.” (Tan 474) Mrs. Woo action’s made Jing-Mei felt disliked by her personality; it could have an emotionally affected her the fact that her mother did not accept her character