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Amy Tan, the gifted author of "Fish Cheeks," imparts a powerful message to young girls, advocating not only the acceptance but the celebration of individuality. Through her adept use of rhetorical strategies such as imagery, tone, diction, and appeals (logos, ethos, pathos), Tan crafts a poignant narrative that serves as a guide for teenage girls navigating the complexities of identity and cultural assimilation. This essay delves into the nuanced elements of Tan's rhetorical arsenal, examining how she paints a portrait of self-acceptance that resonates with both the awkward teenage reader and the nostalgic adult reflecting on their own journey.
Tan's careful choice of words [diction] unveils her initial insecurity about her heritage and her longing to fit into the mold of an average American teenager.
In the opening lines, she strategically describes traditional American food in an appealing manner, invoking images of "roasted turkey and sweet potatoes." However, conspicuously absent are any details about "Chinese food." This omission reflects Tan's internal conflict and desire to distance herself from her cultural roots.
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American manners are labeled as "proper," while her relatives and their Chinese customs are dismissed as "noisy." The significance of this linguistic strategy lies in its relatability, as Tan taps into the shared experience of feeling ashamed of one's differences and the universal pursuit of normality during adolescence.
In the third paragraph, Tan employs vivid imagery to provide readers with a more nuanced depiction of the scene on that memorable night.
The detailed descriptions of the assortment of food are not a reflection of how Tan perceived the dishes but rather how she feared her crush, Robert, would view them. Despite Tan's genuine fondness for her culture's taboo cuisine, the negatively connoted words such as "slimy," "bulging," "fleshy," "rubbery," and "fungus" underscore her apprehension about how she and her family might be perceived. This use of imagery and diction exemplifies Tan's skillful transmission of emotion, initially conveying worry and anxiety and ultimately transitioning to relief and acceptance as the narrative unfolds.
The appeals to ethos and pathos play a pivotal role in Tan's ability to connect with her audience. To establish her credibility, she narrates the story in the first person, emphasizing her personal experience of straddling two different cultures and the inherent desire to belong. The stark contrast she paints between her family's traditional Chinese Christmas and American traditions reinforces her authenticity. Furthermore, Tan strategically employs pathos by imbuing every part of the story with emotion. In the opening, a sense of worry permeates through the repetitive questions she poses. Similarly, she conveys a feeling of relief towards the end, evident in the shift from negative words like "despair" to more positive terms like "stunned."
In conclusion, Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks" emerges as a compelling narrative that transcends its personal context to deliver a universal message of embracing individuality and cultural diversity. Through the careful deployment of rhetorical strategies, Tan creates a literary masterpiece that speaks to the challenges faced by teenage girls navigating the intricate terrain of identity formation and cultural assimilation. The essay invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and encourages a celebration of uniqueness, fostering a society that values diversity and cherishes the richness of individual stories.
Amy Tan's Message: Embracing Individuality and Cultural Diversity. (2016, Dec 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/fish-cheeks-by-amy-tan-rhetorical-strategies-essay
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