Reflection on Identity in Fish Cheeks Krysta Johnson 12th Grade

Tan begins by sharing a story of how she didn’t want to accept herself and her Chinese culture all because a nice-looking guy and his family came over for Christmas Eve dinner. In this story, she explains her thoughts and feelings before, during, and after the minister’s son, Robert, and his family comes over for dinner by using imagery and tone. Her thoughts and feelings shows how much she was uncomfortable and even embarrassed from the beginning of dinner to the end, but all that took place that night turned out to be a well-learned lesson at the end, you should never have to be embarrassed about who you are as a unique human being to change for a person, especially a guy. The author’s tone, imagery, and impact of ethos is used well throughout the story.

Amy Tan’s tone in this story can be described as reflective. When an author uses a reflective tone, that author is reflecting on an experience they went through and sharing it with the audience that may reflect on it as well. Amy telling this story “Fish Cheeks” is her reflecting on a time where she was embarrassed by the food and the way her family ate at the Christmas Eve dinner her mom invited the minister and his family to. She also reflects on the message that she...