The Statue Of Liberty At Ellis Island - 991 Words

America is a melting pot of culture. The statue of liberty at Ellis Island has welcomed hundreds of thousands of immigrants into this country since the early 1900s. Although the immigrant families knew it was important to learn the American language and American culture, they also wanted to keep alive their rich heritage and pass it onto their children. This was often a struggle as their children attended American schools and picked up on the American culture ways quicker 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†¦show more content†¦This was what inspired her to write stories about the relationships between Chinese women and their Chinese-American daughters. In the narrative â€Å"Fish Cheeks†, Amy Tan shares a story of young love which reveals the conflict of shame and pride that she felt about her Chinese heritage. The narrative begins by telling how a young Chinese girl has a crush on the minister’s son, Robert who is American. When the daughter finds out her parents have invited the minister and his family over to eat, she starts to panic. All she could think was, â€Å"What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners? What terrible disappointment would he feel upon seeing not a roasted turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese food?† Here is where Amy Tan first hints at the shame she has about her culture. She was already embarrassed before the dinner even happened. Tan continues to provide a vivid image of the special meal her mother has prepared. For example she describes the fish as â€Å"a slimy rock cod with bulging eyes†, and she makes the fish seem almost human as it â€Å"pleads† not to be dropped into the hot oil. Tan uses a simile to describe the tofu. â⠂¬Å"Tofu, which looked like stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges.† Tan compares the markings on the squid to a bicycle tire, so that one can imagine the deep cuts made by the knife. She includes this description