The passage “Fish Cheeks” written by Amy Tan is a short based on Amy Tan’s personal experience as a typical Asian girl growing up in an American culture. Amy’s only wishes that her and her family were more American so that she could fit the modern American world. She has a huge crush on a boy named Robert, who is the minister’s son and she gets terrified when she finds out Roberts family gets invited her to a traditional Chinese Christmas Eve dinner. Just when Amy thought it couldn’t get any worse, her fears became true, her mother brought out the steamed fish, eyeballs with everything still intact, her father then added to her discomfort by poking its cheeks and announcing that it was her favorite dish on Christmas. After everyone had gone, Amy’s mother had implied that she could looked like an “American girl on the outside but must remain a Chinese girl on the inside”. The author uses details to reveal that an embarrassing experience is about to change how she felt about her family’s heritage making her realize that her feelings of “shame” were based on other people’s reactions more than her own feelings.

The author’s main purpose for writing “Fish Cheeks” was to show her description of her embarrassment throughout the short story. This is definitely something that everyone can completely relate to. This is greatly expressed when she describes her family’s manners at the dinner table. I felt her humiliation; I also have had people come over to my house who I’ve wanted to impress but didn’t because I knew I was going to get humiliate by my family. There have also been multiple occasions where my mother has said and done things that I never would tell or show my friends. What people should enjoy most in this short story is the way in which she understands her mother’s words and realized that everything was done in her favor, and that she shouldn’t feel bad about being herself in front of others. “She is an American on the outside, but Chinese in the inside”. I think that can be applied to anyone because everyone tries to show themselves in a different aspect, but they will always be the real them inside. That to me will never change. This story is very good because it teaches us to value ourselves more. In “Fish Cheeks” Amy Tan assures young girls that being different is not only acceptable, but also can be risky. Rhetorical techniques such as imagery, tone, eloquence, and appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) were the brushes. Amy Tan painted a portrait of self acceptance leaning towards teenage girls. Tan uses a sympathetic tone to relate to teenage girls who are experiencing the same thing. Tans word choice eloquence to exposes her insecurity in her heritage and need to be an average American girl (110). The author also described the traditional American food in an appealing way “roasted turkey and sweet potatoes…” (110) but omitted the detail about the “Chinese food” She labels American manners as “proper”, but viewed her relatives and their Chinese customs as “noisy” (111). The entire narrative relies on the authors shared experience with the audience being ashamed of their foolishness and their pursuit of normality.

In conclusion, author Amy Tan, illustrates how her family taught her to appreciate her culture. By refusing to conform to American culture and instead celebrating the Chinese culture, Amy’s family shows her that it is important to be proud of who you are. Amy may change what she looks like on the outside, but inside she will be undeniably and forever, Chinese.