This excerpt from "Fish Cheeks" illustrates the theme of cultural conflict through the contrast between Amy's Chinese cultural traditions and the American customs of Robert and his family. Amy's relatives behave in a way that is natural to them, licking the ends of their chopsticks and reaching across the table to grab food. In contrast, Robert and his family wait patiently for the food to be passed to them. This difference in behavior highlights the clash between the two cultures and creates a sense of discomfort for Amy as she navigates between the two worlds.
Additionally, Amy's embarrassment is evident when her father burps loudly at the end of the meal as a way of showing satisfaction, a Chinese custom. This action shocks and embarrasses Robert and his family, further emphasizing the cultural divide between them. Amy's silence at the end of the night shows her internal conflict and the struggle she faces in reconciling her Chinese heritage with the American culture that surrounds her.
Overall, this excerpt effectively captures the cultural conflict that persists throughout the story, showcasing the challenges and discomfort that Amy experiences as she tries to navigate between her Chinese and American identities.
Read the following excerpt from "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan in which Tan recounts the Christmas Eve dinner
And then they arrived - the minister's family and all my relatives in a clamor of doorbells and rumpled Christmas packages. Robert grunted hello, and I pretended he was not worthy of existence.
Dinner threw me deeper into despair. My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and his family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish Robert chopsticks just below the fisn eye and plucked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek I wanted grimaced. Then my father poked to disappear. his
At the end of the meal my father leaned back and belched loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking. "It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking down at his plate with a reddened face. The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp. I was stunned into silence for the rest of the night.
How does this excerpt illustrate the theme of cultural conflict that persists throughout the story? Be sure to use specific details from the text to support your answer.
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