Essays
Jordon Bautista
Mr. Fernandez
English 101
September 9, 2013 Symbolism In the very different and unique stories “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, there is similar symbolism regarding their acceptance, although Angelou has more of a struggle. Angelou does an incredible job of describing and pointing out multiple examples of her struggle for acceptance and is more heartfelt and impacting than Tans. In comparison, Amy Tan gives us symbolism to connect her ideas and main points when it comes to her struggle of acceptance, but not as well as Angelou. Tan is so caught up with “What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas?” (99). She describes her Christmas as “shabby” only because Robert is not used to her Chinese customs, she feels ashamed and embarrassed. She is so caught up in fitting in with him and his American traditions; she loses a little bit of herself and becomes inferior to him. Robert in essence becomes this symbol of an all-American-American which is something she’s not but that she so bad wants to be. She does not realize until she is reminded, "You want to be the same as American girls on the outside." She handed me an early gift. It was a miniskirt in beige tweed. "But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame” (Tan, 100). Her lack of self-confidence made her feel inferior to Robert, but not that he really was. She tries to act as if she’s not good enough to share her customs and traditions with him because they are different and that her ways must not be right. The miniskirt becomes the symbol again of America, and her trying to fit in. But she is reminded that she must be proud that she is different, and not to forget where she comes from. In contrast, Maya Angelou has a deeper sense of symbolism and is more meaningful and impacting in showing her everyday struggle. Angelou’s first revealing thoughts were, “I wondered if
Mr. Fernandez
English 101
September 9, 2013 Symbolism In the very different and unique stories “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan, there is similar symbolism regarding their acceptance, although Angelou has more of a struggle. Angelou does an incredible job of describing and pointing out multiple examples of her struggle for acceptance and is more heartfelt and impacting than Tans. In comparison, Amy Tan gives us symbolism to connect her ideas and main points when it comes to her struggle of acceptance, but not as well as Angelou. Tan is so caught up with “What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas?” (99). She describes her Christmas as “shabby” only because Robert is not used to her Chinese customs, she feels ashamed and embarrassed. She is so caught up in fitting in with him and his American traditions; she loses a little bit of herself and becomes inferior to him. Robert in essence becomes this symbol of an all-American-American which is something she’s not but that she so bad wants to be. She does not realize until she is reminded, "You want to be the same as American girls on the outside." She handed me an early gift. It was a miniskirt in beige tweed. "But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame” (Tan, 100). Her lack of self-confidence made her feel inferior to Robert, but not that he really was. She tries to act as if she’s not good enough to share her customs and traditions with him because they are different and that her ways must not be right. The miniskirt becomes the symbol again of America, and her trying to fit in. But she is reminded that she must be proud that she is different, and not to forget where she comes from. In contrast, Maya Angelou has a deeper sense of symbolism and is more meaningful and impacting in showing her everyday struggle. Angelou’s first revealing thoughts were, “I wondered if