Fish Cheeks By Amy Tan - 958 Words

Amy Tan’s short story, Fish Cheeks, outlines the general idea of self-acceptance. As the narrator, fourteen year old Tan declares her love for her minister’s son, Robert, who unlike herself, is â€Å"as white as Mary in the manger† (Tan 1). This crush is anything but healthy, primarily because Tan is reluctant to reveal her true self to him. This hesitance she portrays is strikingly recognizable in the teenagers of today’s world. Amy Tan s story, Fish Cheeks, is significant to the adolescents of today s society through the overall structure, quality, and applicability of the piece as the struggle to accept oneself as an individual is still as present as it ever was. As the story develops, the reader’s thoughts are guided by the structure of the piece in a way that Tan is able to share an important lesson through the form of a personal narrative. The opening text immediately introduces the narrator and her insecurities as she wishes for a â€Å"slim new American nose† (Tan 1). The story initially takes on a negative tone as Tan proceeds to have a negative outlook throughout the entire evening. Her overwhelming anxiety can almost be felt by the reader as she worries what Robert will think of her â€Å"noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners† and overall â€Å"shabby Chinese Christmas† (Tan 1). With the tone set, Tan continues to amplify each dreadful detail of her family’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner. This includes the actual meal, that of which appeared to beShow MoreRelatedAmy Tan And Fish Cheeks1052 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Fish Cheeks† by Amy Tan recalls an embarrassing Chris tmas Eve dinner the author had during her childhood. Attending this dinner was Tans childhood crush and an assortment of Tans relatives and family friends. Tan explains that she was embarrassed by her family’s Chinese traditions, including the mishmash of Chinese foods, noisy relatives, and impolite manners (Tan 74). Tan’s only desire was to be like other American girls, but it wasn’t until much later in life did Tan truly realize what her family’sRead MoreAmy Tan Fish Cheeks vs. Maya Angelous Champion of the World802 Words   |  4 PagesAmy Tans Fish Cheeks and Maya Angelous Champion of the World Maya Angelou and Amy Tan discuss religious problems and culture differences in their literature. The authors have captured these differences by their past experiences of friends and family. Both authors come from a diverse culture, but both face the same harsh society of the American culture and beliefs. The Authors both tell about situations in their short stories of being outcasts and coming from different racial backgroundsRead MoreCompare and Contrast Essay866 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Compare and Contrast: â€Å"Fish Cheeks† and â€Å"Caged Bird† Rachael Becker Assignment 5 Nicole  Yurchak 1/30/2014 The differences between a narrative and a descriptive essay determine the way in which the reader receives the story. The purpose of each is still very clear, to connect to the reader using story telling. In order for the reader to receive the story as intended, the author must create a clear picture of;Read MoreSummary OfShopping By Joyce Oates And Fish Cheeks878 Words   |  4 PagesLessons Learned: Mothers as Teachers in two Short Fiction Works. In the short stories â€Å"Shopping† by Joyce Oates and â€Å"Fish Cheeks† by Amy Tan, I discovered a connection in both stories about mothers love. Both show a gratitude of reasons on how and why mothers love is present. Both stories have a completely different morals but both come together into one meaning; mothers love. In the short story â€Å"Shopping† by Joyce Oates, we experience the mother, Mrs. Dietrich, doing multiple things for herRead MoreAmy Tans Fish Cheeks : Identity Is Created Through Culture745 Words   |  3 Pagesdislikes. Amy Tan writes in â€Å"Fish Cheeks† how one’s identity is created through Culture. She states, â€Å"My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food.† She also states, â€Å"My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat. â€Å" Amy, your favorite.† he said offering me the tender fish cheek. I wantedRead MoreComparison Between Andrea Roman And Amy Tan Relationships With Their Parents859 Words   |  4 Pagesother cultures. In this essay, I’m going to compare and contrast Andrea Roman and Amy Tan relationships wit h their parentsWe are all different, we come from different parts of the world, and our culture is different from one another. Be proud of who you are, don’t be ashamed of what you are. There is nothing wrong with adopting other cultures. In this essay, I’m going to compare and contrast Andrea Roman and Amy Tan relationships with their parents. The relationship of Andrea Roman and her motherRead MoreThe Statue Of Liberty At Ellis Island991 Words   |  4 Pagesquicker than their elder parents. Often these children, especially the teenagers, would struggle with embarrassment over the ways their family was different from other American families. One author who wrote about this struggle was Amy Tan. What readers appreciate about Amy Tan is the rich imagery she uses when writing her novels and short stories. Also many of her stories are similar to situations most teenagers deal with as well. While reading her stories it is almost as if one is there in the middleRead MoreRules Of The Game, Fish Cheeks, And Two Kinds1395 Words   |  6 Pages In Amy tans short stories Rules of the Game, Fish Cheeks, and Two Kinds part of the novel the Joys Luck Club uses topics concerning the limits and connections in the relationships between mothers and their daughters. In an Asian society, especially Chinese society assumes a vital part in every one of the three short stories, giving the primary conflict an interesting plot. Amy Tans short stories for the most part depict the inconveniences and strain between Chinese immigrant moms and their AmericanizedRead Moreâ€Å"Your Only Shame is to Have Shame†1543 Words   |  7 Pagesthey go somewhere else. Amy Tan, a Chinese American, strugg led with her true identity which influence her works which mainly focus on identity, the Chinese American dream, and family struggles. Amy Tan had a childhood full of ups and downs, and they are all part of her stories and poems. She overcame many obstacles in her life and learned many lessons that are all reflected in her works. Many of Tan’s works are about personal experiences she had and about her family. Although Tan admits that she neverRead MoreNarrative vs. Descriptive Writing977 Words   |  4 Pagesessay. This is accomplished quite easily by using those specific and descriptive terms. In the story Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan, the author uses the descriptive style to not only describe a scene, but to feel the subject’s emotion. â€Å"Dinner threw me deeper into despair. My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food.† (Tan, A.(2013). I felt Amy’s shame and cold imag ine exactly how she wished she could disappear from the