My sympathy goes to …
I feel like until after the fast-forward to the present, I can’t emphasize with Jing-mei because she is kind of an antihero. Her mother’s extreme pressure isn’t really understandable either, although I do feel bad for her from time to time because Jing-mei is treating her poorly.
However, this can partially blamed on Jing-mei being a child
The American Dream
“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
government of the people, by the people and for the people
→ Declaration of Independence
always new obstacles to overcome and borderlines to cross → “pursuit”
“Everyone should have the opportunity to make the best of their life.”
“Success is something that everyone can achieve, if they try hard enough.”
→ wealth = success & happiness
Relation to “Two Kinds”
“My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America. You could open a restaurant. You could work for the government and get good retirement. You could buy a house with almost no money down. You could become rich. You could become instantly famous.”
- Amy Tan, “Two Kinds” (ln. 1-4)