Introduction
The Amy Tan’s "Fish Cheeks," main impression is on cultural heritage and differences. She lays out the differences in both the American family and her Chinese family, which she reveals that she prefers the American Culture for its sophistication and modernity. The cultural heritage in the story is the source of major conflict as the author exhibit indifference of her Chinese practices and even felt disgusted for the table manners of her relatives. The author did not want to acknowledge she is different as she wanted to make an impression on her crush’s family. In an education point of view, the perception of other people about us should not affect who we are from the inside. We should learn to love ourselves and embrace our differences, remember that is what makes us unique and stand out from the others. Likewise, we should never struggle to impress others at the expense of our happiness and wellbeing; if someone cherishes you, they should embrace every part of you as no one is perfect.
In many instances in the narrative, Amy felt like disowning her family culture, for the ‘weird’ behavior which embarrassed her for example in this instant when her father worsened the situation, “Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear.” Amy was embarrassed despite fish check being her favorite, which did not measure up to how mortified she was feeling on the inside. Towards the end of the story, the author seeks to reconcile with her feelings. She reduced the tension in the story by coming into terms with her fears after the Christmas Eve dinner when her mother told her that there is nothing wrong in being different. “Your only shame is to have shame." By this, the author was forced to embrace reality not living in a daydream of her crush.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
As B. R Ambedkar would put it “Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but the development of his self.” In my own experience the world may never accept you as you are, it is you to show them who you are by proving them wrong. Also, the world may have a misleading notion about you which may be misguiding your judgment about yourself, instilling the inferiority complex in you. I remember living in a neighborhood we were seen so different from the majority of the neighbors. We were not at par when it comes to affluence but what we had sustained us which made us a little comfortable. This entire situation made us different from other, but sometimes I wished we had more, I wished we would be like them thing affected my personal development as a kid. But at that tender age, I was able to embrace myself as my parents taught me well, they were always there to remind me who I was. The love they had for me overpowered all the material possession, and I appreciated that the most
Conclusion
In conclusion, individuals have to be proud of themselves they should not at all feel ashamed in what they are, what they eat and their culture. In the story “Fish Cheeks” we are encouraged to embrace the inner us because it is important for self-development, the outward look does not hold much water as appearances do change and material things do come and go. But even when we are in our skin, we may undergo challenges that may make us think otherwise of ourselves what you need is to stay true to yourself and take pride in it.
References
Tan, A. (2003). The opposite of fate: A book of musings . Penguin.
