Short Answer
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan explores the complex mother-daughter relationship and the tension between cultural expectations and personal aspirations. The central conflict involves the mother’s desire for her daughter to succeed in music, contrasted with the daughter’s resistance and emotional struggles, while common misunderstandings about the conflict are highlighted as incorrect.
Step 1: Understanding the Story
“Two Kinds” is a short story authored by the renowned writer Amy Tan and was published in February 1989 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. The narrative explores the complex relationship between a daughter and her mother, focusing on the mother’s cultural expectations. The story highlights the protagonist’s internal struggles as she grapples with her identity and familial pressures.
Step 2: Identifying the Conflict
The main conflict in the story arises between the narrator and her mother, centering on cultural expectations and personal aspirations. The protagonist faces unexpected confrontations and fights back emotionally, revealing her true feelings. Important aspects of this conflict include:
- The mother’s desire for her daughter to achieve success through music.
- The narrator’s resistance against these expectations.
- The eventual clash that exposes the deeper feelings and temperament of the narrator.
Step 3: Understanding Incorrect Options
In the context of the story, certain incorrect options frame misunderstandings about the conflicts presented. For instance, it’s inaccurate to suggest that:
- There is a conflict about continuing to live at home.
- An internal conflict is revealed in a second case.
- An external conflict is fully explored in a third case.
This incorrect framing helps clarify why options A and B are deemed correct regarding the story’s conflict dynamics.