The Central Idea of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan

The central idea of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is the struggle to discover one’s identity, and it’s about June trying to find herself without the pressure and influences of her mother, even though she expected an obedient child who focused on being an ideal and prodigy child for American prosperity. Tan uses symbolism to develop the central idea. Symbolism is presented in two parts, two songs, “Pleading Child” and “Perfectly Contented”.

For “Pleading Child”, symbolism is shown in the following descriptions and quotes. June’s mother thought she could make an identity for her daughter, but that caused June’s struggle to stay true to herself. She did not see the idea of being able to become anything. Her perfectionism and battle with herself gave her the feeling of chasing perfection. “Sometimes the prodigy in me became impatient.”, “If you don’t hurry up and get me out of here, I’m disappearing for good,” her ‘prodigy side’ warned. “And then you’ll always be nothing” (Tan, 13-14). Her thought of being nothing because of how her mother was raising her to be successful and flawless made her raise her projection of being a disappointment. “And after seeing, once again, my mother’s disappointed face, something inside me began to die” (Tan, 25).

June becomes defiant and tries to live life on her own says. “I won’t let her change me, I promise myself. I won’t be what I’m not” (Tan, 18-19). This dispute between both, without noticing, damaged them emotionally and mentally. An example of it is when she throws a fit and asks her mother “Why don’t you like me the way I am?” (Tan, 37). And purposely fails in order to spite her mother’s wishes, “be lazy and get away with mistakes, lots of mistakes” (Tan, 50-51).

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The symbolism of “Pleading Child” is shown here because it is symbolically referring to her own position as a child, pleading her mother not to force an identity on her. Her relationship with her mother becomes putrid, and she does not realize her real intentions until she passed away, when the symbolism of “Perfectly Contented isn’t demonstrated until the end of the story. Her mother told her there are two types of daughters, those who obey and those who do not. And June became torn. Then, when the story ends, she realizes that the two songs she has been playing, “Pleading Child” and “Perfectly contented”- referring to stability and happiness-, are both parts of the same song, a whole song. Which represents June, who is a whole piano. And this provides her a moment of insight and self-revelation.

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