The main conflict in the story is between the mother’s desire for obedience and the daughter’s desire for independence. It reveals contrasting cultural perspectives between the characters. The daughter’s independence is a reflection of growing up in the United States. As a result of living in America, she desires the freedom to make her own decisions. The mother, however, has values based on her Chinese heritage. She believes that children must obey their parents at all times. These differences lead to arguments between the mother and daughter over many years.
