...Amy Tan: Two Kinds ”Two Kinds” is a short story written by Amy Tan in 1989. The story brings up the themes parenting and relationship between a mother and her daughter. Also about the difficulties for a Chinese mother to raise an Americanised daughter. The main character is a Chinese-American girl called Jing-mei. The mother has great ambitions for her daughter and believes "that you could be anything you want to be in America". The daughter likes the American lifestyle while her mother wants to keep the Chinese way of lifestyle and living. Summary The story takes place in America. Jing-mei's mother has arranged piano lessons for Jing-mei, because she wants her to become a prodigy. However Jing-mei feels like she is trying to make her into someone she is not. Jing-mei lies about practice times and she does only what she has to do during the lessons. At a talent show she plays the piano awful because of her lack of participation in the piano lessons. Still her mother insists on continuing the piano lessons. Jing-mei screams but her mother drags her to the bench to play. On Jing-mei's thirtieth birthday her mother gives her the piano as a present Characters - Jing-mei Jing-mei and her mother are struggling to accept and understand each other. Jing-mei wants be her self and is obsessed with the American idea of being anyone you want. She does not want to follow her mothers’ footstep, but in stead make her own. She won’t change just to make her mother feel proud or...
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...after much persuasion by my beloved book reader friend, I began The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards – And I can tell you right now that it was terrible, not because it was bad, but because it was so good: I couldn't put it down until I finished the final pages at 4 in the morning. Argh! Not a good thing, when your alarm goes off at 6.30 AM to get ready for more reading at school What fascinates me about this book is what it has to say about "secrets.” And how confessing the deepest and most sinful secrets can give more freedom than money or success can ever bring. The basic premise is this- a doctor is forced to deliver his wife's child in the middle of a raging snowstorm. The only complication is that she's actually carrying twins - the first, a healthy beautiful baby boy; the second, a Downs Syndrome baby girl. The year is 1964, when such children are regularly institutionalized - after all, babies like this rarely survive long anyway, and even if they do, their quality of life is marginal at best. As a doctor, David Henry knows his daughters prognosis full well, and rather than force his young wife Norah to deal with such a tragedy, he makes a snap decision to try and protect her from a lifetime of unspeakable grief. His solution: hand the "defective" daughter to his nurse to deliver to an institution, while he informs his wife of the tragedy - she delivered twins, but her daughter did not survive childbirth. She is dead, gone. With that simple little secret...
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...It is known that a mother would do anything within her power to protect her child. It is exceptionally difficult when the mother is what the child needs protection from.In the exerpt “The Violin” by Amy Chua and “Jing-Mei Woo: Two Kinds” by Amy Tan both portray mother-daughter relationships “the chinese way”. In “The Violin”, by Amy Chua, also from the point of view of Amy Chua, she is stressing to perfect her daughter’s every move.”I’m not thinking anything,”’ I said indignantly. Actually, I’d been thinking that Lulu’s right elbow was too high, that her dynamics were all wrong, and that she needed to shape her phases better (Chua 47-48).” Amy Chua was presented on the fact that she could not perfect Lulu and Lulu would have to figure it out...
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...2013 Shannon Green A Mother's Dream and a Child's Choice: A comparison of A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry and Two Kinds, by Amy Tan While it is true that every mother should have a dream for her child, she should never burden him with it because the child will grow up believing he has disappointed or failed her in some way. There is an old Jewish proverb that says, "A slave shows his true character not while enslaved, but when he becomes a master." (Author unknown). In the same way, a child who has not yet become his own person is often enslaved by his mother's dream for him. This comparative essay will attempt to explain how each of the mothers in Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, and Two Kinds, written by Amy Tan, places the burden of their own dreams onto their children, and the impact it had on both Walter and Jing-Mei as adults. Additionally, my research results will explain the trauma a child may suffer when a parent wants their children to reach for dreams, and ambitions not their own. There can be a fine line between supporting a child’s ambitions and emotionally abusing them with pressure to succeed. It is important the child enjoys what he is doing, and except failure, knowing he has done his best. Equally important, is that he should learn the value of ethical principles. While a mother should have a dream for her child, she should never burden him...
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...PCD vs. Muslim Culture One thing America prides itself on is the freedom it allows its citizens, men and women; the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice—the freedom to live. As we have learned through media and even through school, there are cultures that don’t allow the same freedom and opportunity. In my project, I want to discuss gender roles, sexuality and the ways it could affect an individual’s life. In this specific video that I chose, these women are overtly sexy, they appear confident and their words are not words that an oppressive man would approve of, I’m sure. I don’t believe that these ladies are in full control of their actions on stage or their look; I want to see what affects the performance could have on not only American viewers, but Muslim viewers, as well as the performers, themselves. The Pussycat Dolls famous record “Don’t Cha” includes words that could be considered all kinds of things; they could definitely be considered unladylike if put in the wrong hands. In today’s society, women have a different kind of power that some cultures- -and simply some men- -are not accustomed to. “Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? Don't cha? Don't cha? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me? Don't cha? Don't cha?” (Pussycat Dolls) How many guys really like a woman that is that direct and forward? I am fully aware that this...
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...Essay: “A Dash for Freedom” ESSAY Introductions 1. Today lots of marriages are broken because of fights but many marriages are also broken because one of the spouses deserts his or her family. They did not live this life they really wanted to live. Maybe they have a dream they want to fulfil, or they want to have another kind of lifestyle. 2. I like this story. It is sweet, fond and funny even though it is the old story once more: The mother-in-law who fights against a possible son-in-law because she hates the truth that her daughter is a grown up woman who might soon leave her parents. In all this mess the father-in-law sits back in his chair saying nothing. What are his feelings, his thoughts? Usually he does not say anything because he does not want more trouble but what does he actually think? That is what this story is about. I would like to answer ......... 3. vælg denne form for indledning Being young is about a lot of things, mostly it is the age where you have the opportunities to fulfil your dreams - and have the courage to do it. A lot of people do not realize this until it is too late, Ray Drower is one of them. He had so many dreams but he never realized any of them and when his teen-age daughter meets a young man, Andy, Who lives his life exactly the way he wants it, Ray has a lot of regrets. In what follows I shall characterize Ray Drower and also look at Andy, his ways of behaving, and why Ray likes him. 4. In my class we have been given...
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...parties. By having this kind of freedom, people are able to acquire happiness and long life in marriage. Forceful marriages always have negative impact on those involved. Personal choice and freedom when choosing who to marry By giving young people the right and freedom to choose their marriage partners, they are able to follow their hearts and avoid tragic events from occurring in future. This has been made evident in the events that take place in Romeo and Juliet. Juliet’s father already had a preferred suitor for his daughter but Juliet was in love with Romeo. The two defied their families and they got married secretly (Bloom, 2009). It was this union that leads to tragic events. When two people are in love and pledges their loyalty to each, they will go great lengths to be together. It has been witnessed in several cases where a person chooses to die, rather than getting married to someone to who is not of their choice. A good example is when Romeo found Juliet unconscious, he thought she was dead and he killed himself. After Juliet woke up and found Romeo dead and she killed herself (Willbern, 1997). This shows the magnitude of love and loyalty they had for each other. Conclusion In the past, race was one of the hindrances to marriage. For example during apartheid in South Africa, laws were made such that there would be no interracial marriages (Carlin, 2005). This has changed over the years and...
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...Fighting for Freedom Maria G. Ramirez 07/17/2014 Fresno Pacific University Com-342, Adv Acad Research & Comp. Instructor: Jon Edicott Abstract Females in school are exposed to all kinds of different rules that takes away their right to express themselves. During this essay you will find reasons why dress codes are difficult to follow upon female student. This essay will also explore some of the different controversial issues between schools and female students due to the dress code policy, and the different ways females use to fight back. School dress codes are more for females than males, because schools see women as distraction for males and others. Schools dress codes are messing with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives the students the right to express themselves, without hurting others. We will see how females fight back on what they believe it is taking their freedom of speech and freedom to express their unique personalities. Fighting For Freedom Women like to express themselves through clothing, shoes, hair, make up and all kind of different accessories. Regardless of what color, religion, what body size or shape they have, females like to personalize their style using fashion and new trends. While parents drill on their female children the importance to love and feel comfortable with themselves no matter how they look. Schools portrays women as a “distraction” for men and others. They are constantly...
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...days. IV. CHARACTER Celso Ressurecion – half-indio and half-spanish youth from Pampanga Feliza Reyes – daughter of a Filipino insurgent general Nanding Reyes – Feliza’s father and head of the nationalist rebel group in Baler Azon Reyes – Feliza’s mother Gabriel Reyes – Feliza’s younger brother 2nd Lt. Saturnino Martin Cerezo Capt. Enrique Fossi de las Morenas – replace Lt. Mota as the head of the Spanish in Baler Col. Calixto Villacorte Commandante Teodorico Luna Novicio Fr. Candido Gomez Carreno – parish priest Lt. Jose Mota – head of the Spanish army in Baler Lope – friend of Celso Luming – friend of Feliza V. SUMMARY/PLOT: The story happened during the siege of Baler. A battle between the Filipino forces and Spanish battalion in 1898. A young Filipina, named Feliza who fell inlove with a half Spanish and a half Filipino young man, named Celso who prefer to be a Spanish soldier rather than to be a Filipino katipunero. Feliza and Celso’s love has to be kept as a secret because Feliza is the daughter of Nanding, a rebel leader who has the burning desire to completely annihilate Spanish soldiers in town of Baler. Filipino troops including the father of Feliza...
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...which ruined the happiness of her sisters and made her whole family miserable. Seeing the consequences of her father's actions, who first leads the family to the brink of poverty, and then forces his daughters into unhappy marriages, Sara is no longer able to accept the traditional way of life of her father and community and flees home in order to study and get a job. I believe Sara managed to become her own person, and the attempt at reconciliation with her father by the end of the novel is a proof of this rather than indication Sara is still influenced by the restrictions and prejudices of her childhood. There are two...
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...comes from God, the power of the spoken word. The word is not just a term or a symbol, it is the potential to express and connect, to think and create the events in your life. But like two sides of a coin, your word can create the most beautiful dream come true, or your word can destroy everything you own within seconds. One side is the misuse of the word, which creates a living hell. The other side is the perfection of the word, which is capable of giving you heaven on earth. Precisely, what you dream, what you feel and what you really are, is all manifested through your words. The author advises that in order to be impeccable with your word, you must plant positive opinions and thoughts in your mind; take responsibility for your actions and most importantly, make truthful use of your energy. To begin with, putting the right kind of constructive thoughts in your mind is the first step towards becoming immaculate with your word. The human mind is like a fertile ground where various seeds are being planted at the same time. These seeds are the virtual opinions, ideas and beliefs that grow into actions. The word is like a seed. However, too often, the mind is fertile for the seeds of fear as well. Every human mind is fruitful to specific kinds of seeds and it is important to see which kind. One man alone, many years ago, sent out seeds of fear and manipulated a whole country of intelligent people which grew very strong and achieved massive destruction. Hitler’s word...
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...because Maasai tribe is in Kenya. The “sister” in the story, Nyamlo, goes to secondary school, which indicates that we are in a newer time – about the time that the story was published, around 1970’s-80, perhaps. The action we are told lasts for two years. Flashbacks are the first thing we meet in the text. Then on page 16, line 12 we get into the present. The narration is a first person narrator and she is very subjective, that causes that she is the character, we follow through the entire story. Her name is Naliki she is 12 years old. She, as a character, is very afraid, forsaken and unhappy. Her sister Nyamalo was “sold” when Naliki was ten years old, trough the whole story, we get to know Naliki and her thoughts, she know what is wrong and what is right. In the end of the story she realizes, that now, when she is 12, it is her turn to get married. She is very sensitive about it and scared about the thought of getting married, because she have already seen her sister go trough it, but at the same time she shows curiosity, when she is eavesdropping at times, she is not allowed to. Naliki’s sister Nyamalo is very much like Naliki very rebellious and fights against this old tradition – the tradition where the daughters of the family are being sold for money. She is a role model for the sister and they have a very strong bond, they have many things in common. They both share pain and it affects them both. They can’t safe each other; the only...
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...I have read two articles about the gay marriage issue. One is named “Consequences of gay marriage already here” by Charles LiMandri published on October 19, 2008, it shows an issue that homosexuals got a kind of protection under the proposition 8 for their marriage, but there were appeared lots of problem in this society. The proposition 8 overturned the traditional value of people’s marriage. It is hard for all people to accept this proposition, and the author states his point of view about this big issue. Another one is “It’s about treating every couple the same” by Harry Mathis published on October 19, 2008. The author stresses that every couple should be treat in a same way whether you are homosexual couples or not. People have their own right of their marriage. Proposition 8 gives a protection to homosexual couples, and let them have an equal right as others. The author illustrates that In California State formerly granted marriage licenses to homosexual couples, and he gives some examples of bad consequence which has been occurred in our society. California pointed out a way for Americans when they are at a cultural crossroads. Homosexual couples became the “protected class” due to the Yes on proposition 8, and even impacts on people’s religion rights. The church was punished by government because of this gay marriage law. The author stresses California State should be consider more about gay marriage and gives people an appropriate solution. In the first article, Charles...
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...It basically deals with subjects like growing up, being caught in culture, religion and tradition, and how it feels to be trapped. Analysis The action takes place in Kenya in possibly the time period around the 1970’s-80. We can tell that, because the events take place in a Maasai tribe, which is in Kenya. We can approximately determine the time, because the sister in the story, Nyamalo, goes to secondary school, which indicates that we are in a newer time, perhaps about the time that it is published. The action we are told lasts for two years. The first part of the story is a collection of flashbacks and the second part, which begins in line 12 on page 16, takes place in the present. The narration is a first person narrator and is very subjective, because it is the character, we follow through the entire action. Her name is Naliki, and she is 12 years old. She, as a character, is very afraid, forsaken and unhappy. Her sister Nyamalo has been “sold” when she was ten years old, and in the end of the story she realizes, that now, when she is 12, it is her turn to get married. She is very sensitive about it and scared about the thought of getting married, but at the same time she shows curiosity, when she is eavesdropping at times, she is not allowed to. Her sister Nyamalo is like Naliki very rebellious and fights against this old tradition. She is a role model for the sister and there is a close bond between them. They are both in pain and are in desperate situations and it...
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...Minerva Mcgonagall’s Story Childhood ... Minerva McGonagall was the first child, and only daughter, of a Scottish Presbyterian minister and a Hogwarts-educated witch. She grew up in the Highlands of Scotland in the early twentieth century, and only gradually became aware that there was something strange, both about her own abilities, and her parents’ marriage. Minerva’s father, the Reverend Robert McGonagall, had become captivated by the high-spirited Isobel Ross, who lived in the same village. Like his neighbours, Robert believed that Isobel attended a select ladies’ boarding school in England. In fact, when Isobel vanished from her home for months at a time, it was to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that she went. Aware that her parents (a witch and wizard) would frown on a connection with the serious young Muggle, Isobel kept their burgeoning relationship a secret. By the time she was eighteen, she had fallen in love with Robert. Unfortunately, she had not found the courage to tell him what she was. The couple eloped, to the fury of both sets of parents. Now estranged from her family, Isobel could not bring herself to mar the bliss of the honeymoon by telling her smitten new husband that she had graduated top of her class in Charms at Hogwarts, nor that she had been Captain of the school Quidditch team. Isobel and Robert moved into a manse (minister’s house) on the outskirts of Caithness, where the beautiful Isobel proved surprisingly adept at making...
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