“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan and “Spear” by Julius Lester are two short stories that manifest themes of pressure between the main characters and internal conflicts regarding their identities . Most people feel pressured at some point in their lives, especially if a lot is asked of them. Some stay strong and don't let the pressure weigh them down. On the other hand, there are those who give in and let others define their identity. There are many social forces that exert influences on people. The protagonist of “Two Kinds,” Jing-Mei, fits the description of the strong group who rebels against those who seek to rectify her identity, especially her mother. Simply being observed by others puts pressure on people. Being in a group can make people feel constrained and act differently depending on cues from their surroundings. However, things like compliance, conformity, and obedience also influence people's behaviors. Spear, the main character of Julius Lester's short story, relates to the group that gives in to pressure and lets outside forces illustrate his individuality. He is seen as a person who tires of pleasing others, rather than standing up for what he believes in. Throughout the story, his humility turns into defiance, similar to Jing-Mei. Both main characters in the story are dealing with internal issues. identity conflicts that have been bestowed upon them by other parties. They are pushed to conform to the normality and customs of their surroundings as well as live up to certain expectations. Spear and Jing-Mei, the main characters of these stories, are different in the sense of how they dealt with their individual conflicts and reactions, but at the same time they are mostly similar... middle of paper... .ct. He rebelled and challenged the person everyone wanted him to be, to find his true inner self, free from expectations and obligations, which was Adrian. In both stories, the main characters had people pushing them to be something they didn't want. I want to be. However, they managed to overcome their individual dilemmas. Jing-Mei learned later in life, after her mother's death, while Spear learned early in life. Both rebelled, but had different attitudes in dealing with their problem. These stories taught me that in life everyone will always expect something from you. Some expectations come with pressure and a fear of failure, but with a strong sense of your true identity, you are able to decide whether or not those expectations are worth meeting. Only you can do what you want with yourself, so don't let anyone else do it to you.