Children And Families Essay, Research Paper
Scott Berman 9/12/99
Advanced Writing Ms. Adams
Children and Families
A mother’s love for her children is supposed to be something that never dies. The problem is, this “love” can be expressed in many ways. Sometimes, the love is shown in such a way that there is no doubt that this woman would do anything for her offspring. Sometime, this love can be viewed, as a way that that the mother is trying to mold her daughter into what she believes is the “right” way to behave. Other times, the mother is trying her best to make sure that her child is doing HER best. These three types of “love” are expressed in the three short stories “Girl,” “Gravity,” and “Two Kinds.”
The mother in “Girl” is portrayed as an overbearing monster. For some unknown reason, she has given her daughter many guidelines by which she has to live by. The reason may be that the mother was a rebel in her childhood. It could be that the mother has a vision of what her daughter is to be like. The reason is unknown. But what is known is that this mother won’t take anything less than what she thinks a lady should be like. To the knowledge of the reader, the child has done nothing wrong to have to receive this reprimanding. The most demeaning section of the tirade is when the mother says “…` so to prevent you from becoming the slut you are so bent on becoming.’” (Kincaid 13) This mother, for whatever reason it may be, has the idea that her daughter, who she is SUPPOSED to love with all her heart, has her young mind set on becoming a slut.
Every time the daughter tried to throw in a comment, it goes all for naught. The mother does not even respond to the comment that her child says. The problem is this story might have been resolved; it might have not been resolved. No one will know. But, the odds are that if the mother will act like this now, there are no signs of her changing anytime in the near future. The daughter in this story has to live with the reality that her mother has a mindset of what a woman is. Unfortunately, it appears to be virtually impossible to fill the mold that her mother has for her.
In “Gravity,” the mother has been put into an awful situation. Her son, who seems to be about 30 years old, has the AIDS virus. He has grown weak and feeble. He basically relies on his mother for all his needs. This mother is portrayed as a mother that will (and unfortunately has to) do anything for her son. Even when he was a little child who could not see, his mother lent him her glasses so he could see “Fiddler on the Roof.” She did this with full knowledge that she would be forced to squint for the entire showing. The mother herself has her own sicknesses, which she has to deal with. But, even still, she puts her son’s well – being before hers… just like she has when he was a little child who couldn’t see.
The mother not only does things to help her son physically, she does things to help him emotionally. When she and her son are in a shop purchasing a gift bowl, she tossed the $500 glass bowl to her feeble son. To the surprise of her son and everyone else in the store, he held on. Theo, the son, was overwhelmed with joy that he didn’t see a pile of glass in front of his feet.
As good as a mother as she is, she does have some flaws. First, she somewhat gives the impression that she has been annoyed with the situation. She also feels that people are always looking down on them.
Eventually, it is assumed that the son will pass away. To this day, no cure for AIDS has been found. No matter what, Theo, has always known, and always will know, that his mother would have moved the world to see him with a smile on his face. After all, she had been doing whatever it took to make him happy since he was a little child.
“Two Kinds” is a story in which a mother believes that her daughter could be the absolute best at something… as long as she put her mind to it. Unfortunately for the mother, she and her daughter did not see eye to eye in this.
The mother in this story is a Chinese immigrant who left basically everything to start her life over in the USA. She has always had the belief that anyone can become anything they wanted in the US as long as they put their mind to it. She would sit in front of the TV or read a magazine and see all these child prodigies. Whether it be Shirley Temple on the “Ed Sullivan show” or a three-year-old boy who could name all the capitals in the United States and even the capitals of some European countries, the mother had her mind set that that could be her daughter.
Her daughter, has the opposite belief. She believes that there is no conceivable way that she could become one of these prodigies. Her mother tests her intelligence as well as her musical ability, but it all is to no avail.
After seeing a piano recital on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” her mother made up her mind that her daughter was going to be a world-renowned pianist. Her mother signed her up for lessons with an old man in their apartment building. Since her daughter believed that it was impossible for her to become to prodigy in piano, she didn’t try anything close to her maximum ability. Then, during a musical showcase, her daughter tried to perform a song. It was a disgrace. There were mistakes left and right. It broke her mother’s heart to see that her daughter wasn’t great at something.
Soon after the disaster at the recital, Nikan had a fight with her mother about the whole piano situation. The fight got to the point that Nikan said to her mother “Then I wish I weren’t your daughter. I wish you weren’t my mother.” (Tan 34) Her mother was in complete shock over what she had just heard.
The events that took place that afternoon were never mentioned again. The two had moved on almost like it never happened. Her mother no longer pushed her to become something her daughter believed she never could be. She either accepted her daughter for what she was, or she finally realized that her daughter had no desire, in anyway shape or form, to become a star. She didn’t want to live the “American Dream.”
Mothers do what they feel best for their children. Maybe the children do not believe that they are meaning well. But, if you look deep into the heart of the situation, you will see that “love” is being expressed.
Другие работы по теме:
Lemieux Essay Research Paper Dear Mr Lemieux
Lemieux Essay, Research Paper Dear Mr. Lemieux, 1-21-00 Hello, my name is Raul and I am currently a junior at Duquesne University. I also work part time at a daycare center in Orib, which is a small town in Pittsburgh. I understand
The Effects The Great Depression Had On
Families Essay, Research Paper The Effects the Great Depression Had on Families Outline What were the effects the Great Depression had on families during the 1930?s?
In 1969 The Plane Came Back Essay
, Research Paper In Kathryn L. Scott?s paper ?In 1969 The Plane Came Back? she addresses the issue of the affect of the Vietnam war on those who served in it.
Bill Gates Essay Research Paper 1The main
Bill Gates Essay, Research Paper 1.The main idea of this selection is about the families of America in the present and how they are having problems with social life. With both parents working full-time jobs, it?s hard for their children to adapt the family life as it used to be. Parents have less and less time for their kids now days then they used to have in the past.
White Man Essay Research Paper Since the
White Man Essay, Research Paper Since the 1950’s, the labor force participation rates for women have increased a lot. Everyday, more women bring home a paycheck. On the other hand, families with
Year Round School Essay Research Paper Last
Year Round School Essay, Research Paper Last fall our school board decided to make it mandatory for students to attend school year-round. There were many issues to look at before making this decision. I feel that year round school can both benefit and hurt children.
Vbnfg Essay Research Paper Mrs NicholsChoosing to
Vbnfg Essay, Research Paper Mrs. Nichols Choosing to Participate June 14, 2000 Saving the Children Save the Children is an organization that was created to help less fortunate children that have little money for food and clothing. It is a nonprofit association that is working in more than 35 nations to improve the living qualities of the children and their families.
Child Care 2
Child Care – The Effect On Family Life Essay, Research Paper More and more families are putting their children into daycare every day. There are different reasons as to why they have to do this. The main reasons are that both parents have to work, or the child is in a single parent situation, and the parent has to work in order to have an income to buy basic needs.
Dred Scott Case Essay Research Paper The
Dred Scott Case Essay, Research Paper The Dred Scott case is one of the most significant cases in American history. Dred Scott was a former slave of a master named, Peter Blow. When Mr. Blow became financially in trouble he sold Dred Scott to Dr. John Emerson who was a physician. The military career of Dr. Emerson he traveled to many places including Illinois which at the time it was prohibited to own a slave which was stated in the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
Romeo Essay Research Paper Romeo and Juliet
Romeo Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet Essay In Shakespeare?s tragedies the main characters die in the end, and in his comedies people marry. Since Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, Romeo and Juliet are going to die in the end. Some events have to lead to their deaths, and someone makes these events happen.
Population Control In India Essay Research Paper
Phan, Christine Per. 6, 4/3/01 Essay India Essay In ways to limit the growth population the government of India has come up with a few intentions. India is changing and is one of the two countries with populations over one billion. The government will incorporate actions consisting of “Money given to those who limit number of children in families”. “The Children needs and funds with a great amount of responsibility”. “Benefits on tax given on limiting children.” These actions will expectantly motivate them to systemize the growth population to a steady pace.
Scott Joplin Essay Research Paper CHOW BENJAMIN
Scott Joplin Essay, Research Paper CHOW, BENJAMIN F EXTRA CREDIT In the late 1890?s ; a craze for a new kind of music called ragtime swept the country off it?s feet. Instant popularity of ragtime increased before the turn of the century.
The Lady Of The Lake By Sir
Walter Scott (1771 – 1832) Essay, Research Paper This absorbing tale, opening with an account of a stag hunt in the Highlands, is typical of Scott. He invented the historical
Ivanhoe Essay Research Paper The title of
Ivanhoe Essay, Research Paper The title of my book is Ivanhoe, it was written by Sir Walter Scott. Scott was Scottish born author who died in 1832. He was on of the formost authors of works about chivalry.
Sir Walter Scott Essay Research Paper Sir
Sir Walter Scott Essay, Research Paper Sir Walter Scott Scottish Novelist 1771 – 1832 Sir Walter Scott was born on August 15, 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scott created and popularized historical novels in a series called the Waverley Novels. In his novels Scott arranged the plots and characters so the reader enters into the lives of both great and ordinary people caught up in violent, dramatic changes in history.
Child Poverty Essay Research Paper Child Poverty
Child Poverty Essay, Research Paper Child Poverty: Is the End Near? The article “Breakdown of family blamed for child poverty” found in the Tuesday March 23, 1999 edition of the Toronto Star, informs the public of a very serious problem – child poverty.
Family Essay Research Paper FAMILYI cannot imagine
Family Essay, Research Paper FAMILY I cannot imagine living my life without my family by my side. Family is very important and valuable to me and is something that should never be taken for granted. Without my family, a large part of my life and culture would be missing.
Effects Of Divorce On Children Essay Research
Paper Since there is a lot discussion of the effects of divorce on children, I choose this to be my topic. In 1991 Amato and Keith (researchers) examined the results of 92 studies using 13,000 children ranging from preschool to young adults to determine what the overall results indicated. The overall result of this study was that children from divorced families are on "average" somewhat worse off than children who have lived in nuclear families.
Foster Care Parents Essay Research Paper When
Foster Care Parents Essay, Research Paper When foster care parents become discouraged with raising a foster care child it is frequently due to behavioral problems. An adolescent who has experienced a
Chinese Family Essay Research Paper The Chinese
Chinese Family Essay, Research Paper The Chinese Family For the last two decades, Chinese families have gone through a lot of changes. Much of the old structure and many of the old values of the traditional family have been replaced with a modern twist.
Are Criminals Born Or Made Essay Research
Paper Are Criminals Born or Made By Steve Lanier October 18, 2000 Being a criminal is not something you are born with, it is something you turn into gradually over time. The effects of child abuse, single parent families, and the environment in which they grew up make criminals.
Adoption By Gays Essay Research Paper Adoption
Adoption By Gays Essay, Research Paper Adoption by Gays is all right by me With this being an age when people are supposedly more open-minded, why is it that gays are frowned upon or denied when they want to adopt a child? Why is it that they are treated unfairly because of their sexual orientation? Many Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of gay parents.
Domestic Violence Essay Research Paper Children and
Domestic Violence Essay, Research Paper Children and Domestic Violence Child abuse and Domestic Violence are issues that isn t new in society. Both are considered problems that are accepted in the American culture. Domestic Violence is now politically recognized as one of the most pervasive forms of violence in society today, child abuse issues have yet to receive the same degree of attention.
Children And Violence Essay Research Paper JuvenilesChildren
Children And Violence Essay, Research Paper Juveniles Children and violence, were does it start? Some experts say that children from violent environments at home are more likely to commit crimes then others. Some very young children will witness crime at the home and think that it is ok, not knowing what is right and wrong.
Head Start Essay Research Paper The highest
Head Start Essay, Research Paper The highest rates of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) are found in low-income welfare families. The Head Start program is for the
A Difficult Decision Essay Research Paper Steve
A Difficult Decision Essay, Research Paper Steve Bayne 1/31/00 English IV Mr. Larson Persuasive Essay A Difficult Decision Throughout each of our lives, we go through many trials. Life seems like a big smack in the face at times. Anyone can relate to this, because no one has had a perfect life, a life without blemish.
School Uniform Essay Research Paper School UniformThroughout
School Uniform Essay, Research Paper School UniformThroughout the Japan, numerous school boards have been attempting to standardize the clothing that students wear. The school superintendents who are in favor of uniforms will argue that the children who wear them will experience many benefits. I disagree with this idea.
Scrooge Essay Research Paper Ignorance
Scrooge Essay, Research Paper Ignorance & Want In the famous story A Christmas Carol, the Ghost said to Scrooge “”These are your children Ignorance and Want.” as he opened his robe to reveal two small unfortunate poverty stricken children. By this, the ghost meant that because of the cruelty of the world and irresponsibility, these innocent children must suffer.
Raising Children Essay Research Paper When I
Raising Children Essay, Research Paper When I gave birth to my children I thought I had gone through the toughest part of having children. When anyone talks about having children, they
Dred Scott Decision Essay Research Paper The
Dred Scott Decision Essay, Research Paper The Dred Scott decision of 1865 had many implications on the status of free blacks in the United States, along with the concept of popular sovereignty, and the future of slavery in America.