In Amy Tan's "Two Kinds," the main conflict revolves around the generational and cultural clash between Jing-mei, a young Chinese-American girl, and her mother, a Chinese immigrant. Jing-mei's mother, Suyuan, firmly believes in the American Dream and pushes her daughter to become a prodigy, seeing it as a path to success and self-worth. She subjects Jing-mei to rigorous piano lessons and other activities, hoping to discover a hidden talent. Jing-mei, however, resists her mother's relentless expectations, yearning for acceptance of her individuality and freedom from these pressures. This conflict illustrates the divergent perspectives of the two cultures: the traditional Chinese values of obedience, familial duty, and collective success versus the American ideals of independence, self-expression, and personal achievement. The story poignantly captures the emotional strain and misunderstandings that arise from these conflicting viewpoints, highlighting the complexities of navigating cultural identity and parental expectations in a multicultural landscape.
