A mother-daughter relationship can be the most incomprehensive yet complicated, but is also an unbreakable loving bond. Jing-Mei Woo is the protagonist in the short story Two Kinds by Amy Tan. Jing-Mei Woo and her family moved to San Francisco, California from their native country, China. Her mother, Ms. Woo came to America with the mindset – “You could be anything you wanted to be (223).” Ms. Woo had her daughter attempt to be the next Shirley Temple (an actress), a child with a photographic memory, even be able to learn balance, and then finally a pianist. Jing-Mei would try and please her mother and be that perfect child. Every parent, but more so mothers want the best for their child. Attempting to leave behind the devastating loss of her …show more content…
She was at first a pleading child who wanted to do things her way, but also wanted to live and do right by her parents. It was almost as if her mother wanted to live through Jing-Mei and she would allow it, until she could not take anymore. Towards Jing- Mei’s later years when she lashed out at her mother she realized that was the only instance she felt content, because she was finally taking control of her own life. She no longer had someone forcing her to be someone she was not. Then again its that part where Jing-Mei is thinking of the what ifs in her life. When she was re gifted the piano her mother reassured her that she could have been a genius and she did in fact pick up [the notes/keys] fast (228), if she had decided to take the lessons seriously. The question is did she intend to hurt her mother’s feeling so horribly? Jing-Mei only wish was for her mother to understand that she did not want to be changed, nor would she be forced into someone she was not. Would Ms. Woo have loved Jing-Mei for who she truly was, or would she love Jing-Mei for who she wanted her to be? Jing-Mei did in fact have a talent inside of her, but she just did not give it her full