Commentary on Two Kinds Essay

In the story Two Kinds a Chinese mother believes that her daughter can do anything in the United States as long as she puts her mind to it and decides to push her daughter, Ni kan, into being a prodigy. Unfortunately, Ni kan and her mother do not share the same views on life. Ni kan wants to establish her own identity apart from her mother and feels that she can be successful through her own efforts and determination. Ni kan desire to be an independent person leads to her stubbornness, hardness, and cruelty.

At the beginning of the story, Ni Kans mother attempts to dominate and control her daughters life. Ni Kan mother presents her with many tests from stories of amazing children. The test include: knowing the capitals of states, multiplying numbers in her head, finding the queen of hearts in a deck of cards, trying to stand on her head without using her hands, predicting the daily temperatures in cities, and looking at a page from the Bible for three minutes to see what she remembers. After many failed tests in knowledge and skills, Ni Kan quickly begins to lost interest in her mothers dream of being a prodigy and becomes stubborn. I wont let her change me, I promised myself. I wont be what Im not. This clearly shows that Ni Kan is trying to resist her mothers domination and control. She wants to be herself and make her own choices. Just as she thinks her mother has given up, her mother persists and arranges for her to take piano lessons.

After three months pass, Ni Kans mother sees a Chinese girl playing the piano on the Ed Sullivan Show and gets the same idea for Jing-Mei. Her mother arranges for her to take lessons with Mr. Chong and this begins to take over her daughters free time. When Ni Kan learns that Mr. Chong is deaf, she is lazy and gets away with lots of mistakes. She also discovers ways to fool him and make it look like she was playing. In getting ready for the show, Ni Kan cheats and never listens to what she is playing. She is determined not to learn and only goes to the lessons because her mother makes her. When it comes time for Ni Kan talent show, she feels confident that she can pull it off. As she begins to play, she starts to hit the wrong notes and realizes it. She feels bad and decides that she will never play the piano again. Not only does her mother want to control her actions and dreams, she also will not tolerate Ni Kan disobedience.

After Ni Kan talent show disaster, her mother still expects her to practice on her piano. Ni Kan is disobedient and refuses to practice anymore. Ill never be the kind of daughter you want me to be. Ni Kan states to her mother that no matter how hard she tries to mold her, she will never meet her expectations. I wish I was never been born! She shouted I wish I were dead! Like them. Ni Kan is full of anger and refers to her mothers lost babies. She disappoints her mother with this comment and leaves her mother speechless. After that moment, Ni Kan mother gives up hope for her.

Disastrously, Ni Kan and her mother dont contribute the same aspect on life. Ni Kan wants to be her own person, and live her own life. She wants to be self contained. In the process she disappoints her mother. Ni Kan demands to be make her own choices in life.