Culture Clash in “Two Kinds” and “Dead Mans Path” Essay

The floriculture clash in Two kinds occurs mingled with Amy Tan who has become the Statesnized and her mother who is still very much nether Chinese influence. Amys florists chrysanthemum believes strongly in The American DreamMy mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in AmericaShows the large quantity of Aspiration and hope in her mothers mind about the future for Amy. Her mother continues the idea that Amy could be a star in America when she saysYou can be best anythingNot only does the statement reflect her ambitions for Amy and beliefs but also her broken English represents that she is still very much Chinese. Amy takes a rebellious stance when her hair cut goes wrong, and claims she likes it as it was non what her mother wantedI liked the haircut it made me look forward to my future fameThe joint not only bespeaks her rebellious side but also that she believes what her mother has said about being famous. Amys views are filled with a spirit level of irony in being what her parents wanted her to beI was filled with a sense I would soon become perfectThe italics in the idiom represent the irony of it and also the certain amount of insecurity Amy feels. Amys mother is also ironic to a degree although she may not necessitate in mind to beSearching for stories about remarkable childrenThe irony continues as Amy is not remarkable, and her mother thinks she can be.The fact Amy is not remarkable is brought up when she is asked to recall what she remembers from a page in the bible.Now Jehosophat had riches and honor in abundance. Thats all I remember maThe phrase shows that Amys memory is poor and she is not exceptional.Amy soon begins to dislike her mother methods of trying to turn her into a child prodigy, and the cultures start to clash as Amys mum still believes that she can be, but the Americanized Amy starts to dislike it.I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectationsThis shows Amys dislike of her mothers methods, and th e feeling that she has failed again and again. Amy then begins her rebellion in her feeling that she routine be who shes not.I promised myself, I wont be what Im notThis shows Amys determination to succeed against her mothers will and not become a prodigy. The view that a Chinese girl could succeed in American is brought back to her mum three months later when she sees a lesser Chinese girl playing a piano on TV when Amy defends the girl her mother takes the traditional view that she isnt trying and thats why shes failingNot the best because youre not tryingThe phrase emphasiss the mothers feelings towards her daughter as in traditional Chinese culture it must be the childs fault.The culture clash is emphasized when Amy refuses to rehearse properly for her performance and plays badly as a result her mum is deeply ashamed as she has in Chinese terms at least shamed the familys name her father shares a similar viewHe saysThat was some(a)thing elseIn ambiguous phrase, her mum has a l ook on her face which rattles Amy and brings home what shes doneBut my mothers expression was what devastated me a quiet blank look that said she had lost everythingThe phrase is postful as her mum had lost everything, and Amy was her last hope.Her mum continues her methods of Chinese belief a few days later when in an argument she shouts at Amy on the basis that daughters in China are obedientOnly one type of daughter can live in this house, obedient daughterThis is one of the to a greater extent fundamental lines as it really shows the Chinese culture that children should be obedient and Amy is not. Amys American beliefs and nature are brought up when she saysFor unlike my mother I did not believe I could be anything. I could only be meThis emphasizes the fact she is not a traditional Chinese daughter the way her mum wants her to be instead she has her own beliefs and lifestyle.The first line of Dead Mans Path emphasizes a culture clash, as the headmasters name is Michael Obi. M ichael being a western sandwich name. So he obviously has western influence. And his clash begins with his viewsHe was outspoken is his condemnation of the narrow views of these aged(a) and often less educated onesMichael is critical of the older generation, which is probably a western influence but in most Nigerian towns the elders are to be respected showing a clash between his and African views.His ideas and views are summarized and appear to be the opposite of the village in which the nurture is situated when he saysEverything will be modern and delightful..The ledger modern is italicized to show that it is the opposite of the current village and the change Michael Obi wants to create.Michael also tried to disassociate himself with the locals, and make himself sound better.Weve got a chance to show these people how a school should be runShows not just disassociation in the phrase these people but arrogance, in believing he can show them how to run a school.Michaels western in fluence is also shown in the plants which are planted around schoolBeautiful hibiscus and allamanda hedges some(prenominal) the plants are traditionally western showing Michael wishes to westernize the school.Michaels amazement at the actions of the locals also shows his superstition for both local traditions and respect for the oldHe was scandalized to see and old women hobble right across the compoundThe phrase scandalized shows just how amazed he is that the event has occurred it also shows his feelings about tradition, that it needs to be removed. To be replaced by his modern ways.Michael then shows his ignorance to their culture by separating the incident and the school and exclaimingAnd what has that got to do with the school?The phrase is both pompous and patronising and shows his ignorance in thinking that the two should be divided and religion/culture should be kept away from schools.The priest when talking to Michael has a feeling of power and looks down on Michael.Look here my sonThe priest uses this opening phrase to create a feeling of inferiority to Michael he also bangs his pose on the ground to emphasize his point. Michael responds to the whole conversation in a very arrogant way,Our duty is to teach your children to laugh at such ideasShows his intolerance towards the priests and villages beliefs, and shows how he plans to change traditional ways.The conversation later grinds to a halt with neither parting with their ideas or cultureI have no more words to sayShows the priest has been defeated by ignorance, and that the conflict between the cultures will not be resolved.Both stories have culture clashes neither ending with particularly happy endings, However I feel that in Dead Mans Path the culture clash is more straight forward in that it is traditional against modern. However two kinds is slightly more complicated as at first Amy seems to be trying to be traditional and try hard where as Michael never wanted any sort of tradition right f rom the start. Both culture clashes involve arguments and verbal disagreements, and some degree of action.Amy ruining her piano piece in Two Kinds and the Michael blocking off the path in Dead Mans Path. These are followed up by more action from the other culture Amys mum continues to make Amy learn claiming she could still be a prodigy whilst the villagers tear the school apart. In Dead Mans Path it is an antithesis however I feel that Two Kinds is less so and the ideas are more intertwining however I still feel there is a large culture clash. In both stories however it is clear to see that both traditional and modern views maintain it hard to live side by side.