Analysis Of My Mother Pieced Quilts

In North Korea most people don’t know what “freedom” means, in China most people don’t know what “opinion” means, in the Middle East most people don’t know what “solution” means, and in America most people don’t know what “the rest of the world” means. From shaping personalities to affecting perceptions, culture is the invisible bond that ties individuals together in a society. At a young age, people absorb cultural values and beliefs which are manifested through one’s lifestyle. Culture strongly influences the ways of thinking and living. The differences in these factors is what causes diversity among cultures in several parts of the world. Culture is associated with the progression of one’s attitude and influences the way to approach living. …show more content…
In the piece “My Mother Pieced Quilts,” Teresa Palma Acosta describes the hand knit blankets made by her mother and its connection to her family and their relationship. From the first line of piece, she confronts a common assumption made by others by writing, “they were just meant as covers in winters as weapons against pounding January winds.” Someone could interpret the literal meaning of quilts and use it solely for warmth and comfort; but the author held a much deeper value. Acosta describes the value behind these quilts and states, “stretched out they lay... armed/ready/shouting/celebrating knotted with love... the quilts sing on.” Acosta reveals the world of emotional connection to her mother’s quilts and it brings out her identity while giving insight upon her life and family background. Because of her culture, family connection, and cherished experiences, she is able to embrace the meaning behind each piece of fabric in the quilt. Furthermore, Acosta informs the reader about her reactions to these quilts by writing “oh mother you plunged me sobbing and, laughing into our past.” Because of the numerous amount of stories and recollections attached to the blankets, she was brought to tears and rejoice. As a result, the writer would support the notion of culture affecting someone’s interpretation on traditional objects. Others may encounter objects on a daily basis that trigger a reaction and cause them to …show more content…
At a young age, many children are forced to pursue a destined dream. Children are sometimes expected to pursue what their parents desire. Many are not comfortable with this norm, but fear to let their parents down. “Two kinds” by Amy Tan reveals the morals and goals of an Asian family with the hopes for their daughter to become a piano prodigy. Like any parent, Jing-Mei’s mother pushes her to success but realizes she may have pushed her daughter too hard. Different cultural families have unique ways to interpret ideas. However, they have the common intention of chasing “The American Dream”. The narrator was confronted with this when informing the reader, “We didn’t immediately pick the right kind of prodigy. At first my mother thought I could be a Chinese Shirley temple.” Coming from a foreign country, this showed how her mother wanted her to become spectacular and prestigious. Jing-mei’s main purpose was to please her parents. This is shown when she states, “I was filled with a sense that I would soon become perfect; my mother and father would adore me.” This shows how she was brainwashed at such a young age to become what her mother wanted her to be. Finally, Jing-Mei snaps and screams to her mother “Why don’t you like me the way I am?” This portrays how parents focus immensely on cultural expectation, which blinds them from seeing their children for who they are, instead of a rising