"Two Kinds" by Amy Tan is a very properly-written short story that showed how much a daily incident could touch the heart. Tan showed the awkward differences between mothers and daughters superbly and did it in a way that made it seem personal. Even without understanding the cultural feelings of Jing-Mei's mother, where she is coming from is understood. Tan did an outstanding job of making this short story "hit home."
             The plot of "Two Kinds" is very believable in that not only do different cultures, and ethnicities sometimes clash, but also the fact of ages. Although the ending wasn't expected, Tan grabbed attention and held interest with the forgiveness of Jing-Mei by her mother. The conflicts in the story were not only physical, with Jing-Mei trying to learn piano, but also mental by Jing-Mei's mother never being satisfied with her daughter. During the talent contest, Jing-Mei was feeling "[...] very confident" and believed "[...] that the child prodigy side of me did exist" (Tan 50). Though, after her performance, her excitement shortly fell "[...] my mother's expression was what devastated me: a quiet, blank look that said she had lost everything" (Tan 51).
             The characters in "Two Kinds" are exceptionally realistic and shows feelings that could be felt on a day-to-day basis. Although Jing-Mei and her mother's motives are not the same, Tan does an excellent job of making them clear. It is obvious that Jing-Mei's mother wanted nothing but for her daughter to have an incredible life and do something with it. Tan might be showing that Jing-Mei's mother wasn't able to do anything much with her life, so she let her dreams live on in her daughter. Jing-Mei is the more round, complex character. She knows that she wants to be successful and a star, but she is picky about the way to get there. She wants to "have her cake and eat it too." She is also more dynamic, with changing her mind from wanting to be famous not to want all the press...