Amy Tans Fish Cheeks - Essay Example

Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” Is fitting into another culture worth the effort? There exists the risk of losing one’s identity in the quest of gaining acceptance. The contrast between individuality and the preference that one has in life always presents a conflict. The crisis arises when one has to sacrifice their own identity to fit into a separate culture. Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” explores the issue of identity and the conflict one has with themselves, family, and friends, as they try to fit into the society.

Although Tan has both Chinese and American descent, she despises her own culture and prefers the American lifestyle. The choice of retaining one’s identity presents considerable debate. Tan sees herself through the eyes of others, rather than appreciating her identity. She believes that Robert, her American crush, loathes her ordinary appearance. In addition, her family traditions suddenly disgust her, and she refers to the Christmas function as “shabby Chinese Christmas”. Tan is more concerned about impressing Robert, than the hurt she causes her parent’s well-prepared traditional meal.

She previously appreciated the food prepared by mother and it is only through this identity crisis stage does she see the food as disgusting. She laments “On Christmas Eve I saw that my mother had outdone herself in creating a strange menu” (Tan, 2003). Her ideology dwells on whether Robert will appreciate her family’s culture. Tan is evidently not happy with her individuality, and it is years later that she remembers that day and understands how individuality shapes happiness. One ends up overlooking themselves in the quest for acceptance.

Acceptance gives one an imaginary feeling of happiness that is often short lived as one tries to impress everybody. In essence, this means that one is accepted for their action, rather than gaining approval for whom they are in reality. Her mother criticizes this character when she says, “You want to be the same as American girls on the outside. But inside you must always be Chinese” (Tan, 2003). Her mother affirms that one cannot change who they are in the quest of impressing others. One must be proud of their identity and not copy anything they perceive as superior.

Tan’s struggles to escape her Chinese heritage makes her lose favor with both her parents and her visiting friends. She is mortified when her dad openly belches, a behavior that is common across her culture to show satisfaction after eating. “At the end of the meal my father leaned back and belched loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking” (Tan, 2003). In the end, she seems unhappy with both sides since she can satisfy neither party. Humans often overlook who they are as they attempt to fit in, similar to Tan’s scenario.

She strives to adapt to the Western culture while ignoring her traditions that defined her identity. It is debatable whether Robert would have accepted her if she wore a miniskirt or possessed a “new slim American nose”. It is also of interest to know how she would be perceived by those she tries to impress if her newly-acquired characteristics later changed. In the end, it is evident that there is no value in trying to impress or adapt new characteristics. Life is more meaningful if one lives to gratify themselves and accept their cultural inclinations.

ReferenceTan, A. (2003). Fish Cheeks.