Self In Amy Tan's Fish Cheeks

First, both Tan and Crutcher utilize conflict to convey the shared theme that a strong sense of self is necessary under pressure from the expectations of others. For example, in Tan’s story, ‘Fish Cheeks’, when it is revealed to Amy that Robert’s family was invited to her house for Christmas Eve, it is said, “What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas Eve?” (2) it is presented that she thinks her family is embarrassing. The problem is that she also enjoys Chinese culture, as shown in the example, “My father … plucked out the soft meat. ‘Amy your favorite.’ … I wanted to disappear.” (5). Amy is torn between two cultures, which is why this is character vs. self. She is doubting her culture because other’s expectations differ. Amy
feels as if her culture is embarrassing, and her sense of worth, compared to Americans, is diminishing. She displays this when asking for a new, slim nose. This supports the theme because her sense of self is damaged by a group. Secondly, in an excerpt from Crutcher’s story, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, when the coach takes Cindy’s glove, Cindy thinks, “... I didn’t really belong because they could take my glove.” (16). Cindy’s internal conflict is not belonging. Even after the coach takes her glove, the conflict is all internalized. This is why the conflict is character vs. self. Cindy’s self-worth is undermined because of the pressure to give up her glove. She thinks that she doesn’t belong because they would always take the glove from her. This is why the shared theme is a strong sense of self. At last, the theme, which is a strong sense of self, is backed by both of these stories. Cindy and Amy both have a low sense of self. This relates to the theme because the pressure by society or a group is what caused them to lose a sense of self. Cindy and Amy’s sense of belonging is shot down, for Cindy, the coach;for Amy, Robert.