Select 2 stories in which there is conflict between parent & child, show how far there is some resolution of these differences.
Story: LeeThis story is about conflict between parent and child, The two protoganist Lee and her birth father. In the starting of the story there is already a resembling difference in their background, Lee has just returned from California. Her character seen to be uncouth when the drink didn't emerged from the drink machine she kicked it impatiently.
The protoganist tries to reconcile with Lee but is not welcomed openly. From here, I think that a teenager, suddenly reuniting with a parent is not easily accepted so her cool and aloof attitude towards her father is natural, though she also tries to get along with him. On the other hand, Lee's father is feeling nervous at how she would turn out, not seeing her for so many years, how she would think of him, as he tries to be friendly and turn into a father figure for her. He is also expectant of her, to remember some parts of her home country.
Though their characters are different they get along, as it is like give and take kind of situation. Lee is straight-forward and mature despite her age. Lee's father sometimes found it embarrassing to have to answer to her questions, he was more reserved - leaning towards typical asian societies. Lee still likes California and isn't really accepting all the chinese etiquettes she has to learn or about the history. In the end, they both learn about the difference in each other and accept that.
Story: Mid-Autumn
The narrator and her daughter, conflict in the daughter's decision. When the narrator buys things for her daughter, but her daughter doesn't treasure it and says " Mummy, don't be sad, can always buy new one." The narrator works hard in order to provide a good education for her, send her to art, piano and ballet classes at the community centre, paid for her Chinese tution. She even can't even work at the job she likes and has to face those monolingual monkeys at Yat Sen Primary.
Her husband doesn't help to pay the classes that she goes to. He didn't even pay for the HDB flat in Bedok. Later she tried to run away, to get a new life and job. But she stopped for her daughter as she felt she couldn't leave and abandon her. Everything she did was so her daughter would not end up like her, with an irresponsible husband, not enough education, work and slog like hell.
In the end her repayment was that her daughter wanted to be a missionary and go to Uganda. Though the narrator has done everything for her, she would not stay as it was a calling from god. Now the narrator silently waits every Mid-Autumn to see her daughter, though she knows it will not happen, she only receives postcards and pictures of her bloodied hands.
posted by Invisible @ 6:41 AM
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