What Does the American Dream Mean to an Immigrant?
Stephen Skinner
Professor DiNatale
ENG 1102
28 June 2013
What Does the American Dream Mean to an Immigrant? In Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds,” the differences between the mother and daughter showcase the different perceptions of the American dream and how expectations of parents can disrupt their child’s self-actualization. Jing-Mei’s mother believes that her daughter could accomplish her goals just because of how Shirley Temple showed how she was a natural phenomenon on TV or how the little Chinese girl playing the piano illustrated her mastery of the instrument. Jing-Mei declares, “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America.” (305) Media can truly sway some people into thinking they can be movie star or a sports star; it usually only displays how well a person can perform what he or she is good in, not the diligence and endeavors it took to get to that point. Parents’ expectations can also get in the way of their child’s self-actualization. With the influence of the media, parents’ expectations can truly prevent children from choosing their own destiny. Undoubtedly, many immigrants come over to the United States to seek better lives not only for their selves, but also for their families. Lots of people have different approaches of what the American Dream actually means. To some, it is finding happiness in life. To others, it may be becoming successful and evolving into a wealthy person. There are endless amounts of visualizations of what it means. But to the mother in the story, I believe she presumes that it means her daughter maturing into a prodigy in something like acting or music and being able to take part in activities her mother couldn’t. At first, the mother convinces Jing-Mei that she really can be a prodigy: In fact, in the beginning, I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so. I pictured this prodigy part of me as many different images, trying each one on for size. I was a dainty ballerina girl standing by the
Professor DiNatale
ENG 1102
28 June 2013
What Does the American Dream Mean to an Immigrant? In Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds,” the differences between the mother and daughter showcase the different perceptions of the American dream and how expectations of parents can disrupt their child’s self-actualization. Jing-Mei’s mother believes that her daughter could accomplish her goals just because of how Shirley Temple showed how she was a natural phenomenon on TV or how the little Chinese girl playing the piano illustrated her mastery of the instrument. Jing-Mei declares, “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America.” (305) Media can truly sway some people into thinking they can be movie star or a sports star; it usually only displays how well a person can perform what he or she is good in, not the diligence and endeavors it took to get to that point. Parents’ expectations can also get in the way of their child’s self-actualization. With the influence of the media, parents’ expectations can truly prevent children from choosing their own destiny. Undoubtedly, many immigrants come over to the United States to seek better lives not only for their selves, but also for their families. Lots of people have different approaches of what the American Dream actually means. To some, it is finding happiness in life. To others, it may be becoming successful and evolving into a wealthy person. There are endless amounts of visualizations of what it means. But to the mother in the story, I believe she presumes that it means her daughter maturing into a prodigy in something like acting or music and being able to take part in activities her mother couldn’t. At first, the mother convinces Jing-Mei that she really can be a prodigy: In fact, in the beginning, I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so. I pictured this prodigy part of me as many different images, trying each one on for size. I was a dainty ballerina girl standing by the
Cited: Tan, Amy. "Two Kinds." Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. 5th Edition. John Schilb, John Clifford. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1989. 305-313. Book.