Usually, authors use setting to describe certain feelings caused by the character's environment. The setting of a story allows us to better understand the characters involved in the story. The setting also allows us to understand why the characters behave the way they do. The setting of “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan and Judith Cofer “Volar” explores themes of culture and ethnic identity, to allow us to better understand the feelings and actions of the characters. We better understand the character's relationship with the setting. These two stories have many similarities and many differences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay These stories use symbolism and a distinctive setting to describe the lives and feelings of two young girls from different cultural backgrounds. The stories use similar setting styles to depict two different problems that these girls face based on who they are and what they are facing. “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan explores the relationship between setting, location, heritage and ethnic identity. The main character, Jing-Mei, struggles to accept that she is Chinese, despite her heritage. Growing up in California, she became accustomed to American culture and its way of life. The author states, "When I was fifteen and vigorously denied having any Chinese under my skin," even her Caucasian friends agreed that she "was as Chinese as they were." Jing-Mei finally realizes that she never really knew what it means to be Chinese because she was born and lived in America her whole life and is traveling to China for the first time. Although she understands the language, she doesn't speak it very well, further separating her from her heritage. However, “Volar” is about an immigrant family living in America. The unnamed little girl in the story has her version of the American dream. Unlike “A Pair of Tickets,” the little girl in this story wants to fit in. The main character struggles to fit in and has trouble seeming different from others. To escape reality, the little girl dreamed that she was “Supergirl,” she says. “My legs would lengthen, my arms would harden into steel, and my hair would magically stand up and turn a golden color. Of course, I would have breasts as a bonus, but not too big." The young girl would even mention that she remembers that she would wake up in her small room, she also claims that she would find herself in the body " My tight curls still cling to my head, my skinny arms and legs, and my flat chest unchanged." The detailed setting of this story makes it easier to understand why the narrator wants to escape and go to where he knows. " A Pair of Tickets” and “Volar” both show the main character’s struggles with living in America without being fully American. In “Volar,” the girl always wishes she could “steal is the quickest way to.” get where you need to go, so flying in “Volar” represents an escape, the little girl wants to return to Puerto Rico, where she knows where she will fit in. In “A Pair of Tickets” When Jing-Mei arrives in Guangzhou, the landscape is described as gray but as the story continues, the landscape slowly changes, as does the narrator. “A Pair of Tickets” represents Jing-Mei’s journey of self-discovery. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article now from our editors.