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Comparing 'Yes Ma Am And Fish Cheeks'

Decent Essays

Everyone should respect themselves and others. Two stories that teach this theme are “Yes Ma’am” by Langston Hughes and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan. The authors of these short stories reveal this theme through the plot’s conflict and symbolism. One story that reveals the theme of respect for themselves and others is “Fish Cheeks.” In Amy Tan, “Fish Cheeks” a young girl wants her crush to like her but she is embarrassed when her mom invited her crush Roger’s family over for dinner and Amy’s mom made all Chinese food, then Amy realized that she did that because it was all her favorite food and then Amy knew that her culture is unique and Amy needed to respect it. The theme, respect for themselves and others, is shown through the conflict of the character. Amy knew her crush was …show more content…

Another story that reveals the theme of respecting themselves and others is “Thank You, M’am.” In Langston Hughes' perspective “Thank You, M’am”, a big lady was walking on the sidewalk at 11 o’clock at night, then a young boy came up to her and took her pocket book. The young man Roger tried to run away but the big lady Mrs Jones grabbed him and put him in a head lock, then she took Roger to her house. When Roger and Mrs Jones took him home to clean himself Roger asked why he tried to take the pocket book he said because He wanted blue suede shoes Mrs Jones gave him the money and said do not get into any more trouble.The theme, respect themselves and others is shown through the conflict of the character. The main character wanted “blue suede shoes” but he did not have enough money for the shoes. So he tried to steal a lady’s pocketbook, but failed. The lady put him in a head lock and asked him why he tried to take his pocket book. Then the lady took him home and cleaned him up, gave the main character food, then the lady talked to him and gave him “ten dollars” for some blue suede

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