Jing mei and her mother are
representative of many first and second generation immigrant families
. Jimg mei is growing up in the United States where the ideas of self-determination and freedom are taught even to children.
How does Jing Mei feel about her mother?
Jing-mei
is fed up with always disappointing her mother
. And after seeing, once again, my mother’s disappointed face, something inside me began to die. I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations. . . I won’t let her change me, I promised myself.
What is the relationship between Jing Mei and her mother at the start of the narrative cite textual evidence?
Jing-mei’s mother is saying that
a daughter is either obedient or not
, but she is also making a reference to the difference between how daughters born in China behave compared with those born and raised in the United States.
How do the conflicts between Jing Mei and her mother connect with the developing the theme of the story?
The conflict between Jing-Mei and her mother eventually resolves itself. Throughout the majority of the novel, Jing-Mei is in constant conflict with her mother, as a
direct result of her mother’s high expectations
. Jing-Mei’s mother has her (Jing-Mei’s) life all planned out for her and pushes her relentlessly.
How would you describe Jing Mei’s relationship with suyuan when Jing Mei was a child?
The relationship between Jing-Mei and her mother in “Two Kinds” could be described as
fraught
. Suyuan wants her daughter to be a child prodigy, but Jing-Mei’s not so enthusiastic. Though she goes along with her mother’s plan, it soon becomes clear that she isn’t cut out to be a pianist.
Two core values of Americans are
freedom and self-determination
, and both Jing-mei and her mother are committed to them. Jing-mei’s mother, an immigrant, valued freedom enough to come to America after losing everything in China.
Why did Jing Mei’s mother actually leave the babies?
Why did Jing-mei’s mother actually leave the babies? She left the babies
because she thought she was going to die and didn’t want them to die with her
. … The babies were found by an old peasant woman.
What is the main conflict between Jing Mei and her mother?
The conflict between Jing-mei and her mother is
over Jing-mei’s piano lessons
. Jing-mei does not want to play anymore, but her mother wants her to become a prodigy. When Jing-mei’s mother decides she should be a prodigy, Jing-mei is on board at first.
Why do you feel Jing Mei didn’t take her piano lessons seriously?
Initially, Jing-mei refuses to take piano lessons
because her mother has been trying, for quite some time
, to figure out a way in which Jing-mei might be a prodigy. Jing-mei feels that she has disappointed her mother all these times, and so she feels badly about herself and resentful of her mother.
What motivates Jing Mei refuse?
What motivates Jing-mei to refuse to take piano lessons after the talent show?
Because she thinks she is not a prodigy and doesn’t want to go through that humiliation again.
How are Jing Mei and suyuan similar?
Suyuan grew up in China and behaves according to the Chinese culture and her American-born daughter Jing-Mei is influenced by the American culture that surrounds her and wants to become part of it. Their relationship is also shaped by the
pressure Suyuan
puts on Jing-Mei.
How does Jing Mei change at the end of the story?
Jing-Mei views it as her mother forgiving her for what she said to her when she was a child. How does Jing-Mei change at the end of the story?
She becomes content and proud of herself.
What are the similarities and differences between Jing-Mei and her mother?
Jing-mei is similar to her mother in that she wants to be successful,
and she wants to get along with her mother
. However, she is also different from her mother because she wants to make her own choices and be her own person, and not blindly follow her mother. Both mother and daughter are very stubborn.
What does suyuan give Jing-Mei?
In “Two Kinds,” Suyuan gives her daughter, Jing-Mei,
a piano
. This gift comes about one year after Jing-Mei has started taking piano lessons from her neighbor, Mr. Chong. … In the story “Two Kinds,” Jing-mei and her mother have a conflicted relationship because Jing-mei’s mother tries to turn her into a prodigy.
How does Jing-Mei feel after the talent show?
After the talent show, Jing-Mei’s mother was devastated at her performance. … Jing-Mei
remembers the babies that her mother lot in China
. She wishes that she had never been born, and she wishes that she were dead, like the babies. This prompts her mother to give up hope.
What does Jing-Mei say to hurt her mother in their last struggle over the piano lesson?
Suyuan’s response to Jing-Mei is that “Only one kind of daughter can live in this house. Obedient daughter!” Jing-Mei’s cruel reply is that “
I wish I wasn’t your daughter. I wish you weren’t my mother… I wish I were dead!
