Katrina Rosales
In Sui Sin Far's short story, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, Mr. Spring Fragrance's aversion to American poetry stems from his concerns about his wife's fidelity and her increasing Americanization. Mr. Spring Fragrance, a Chinese immigrant in Seattle, is troubled by his wife's interest in Western poetry and her adoption of American customs. He overhears Mrs. Spring Fragrance quoting the British poet Tennyson, and his confusion is aggravated by an American university student's interpretation of the poem through a modern American bachelor's lens. Mr. Spring Fragrance's misunderstanding of Western poetry leads him to conclude that his wife is seeking her true love, threatening their marriage. This clash between Chinese heritage and American culture forms the central theme of the story, highlighting the challenges faced by immigrants navigating between their roots and their new country's influences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for detesting American poetry | Misunderstanding of Western poetry |
| Stereotyping | Guilty |
| Reason for quoting Tennyson | Advising a friend on love |
| Reason for Mrs Spring Fragrance's prolonged stay in San Francisco | Matchmaking for her friend |
| Mr Spring Fragrance's conclusion about his wife's prolonged stay | She has gone to find the "love that she has lost" |
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What You'll Learn
Mr Spring Fragrance's wife, Mrs Spring Fragrance, is Americanised
In the short story "Mrs Spring Fragrance" by Sui Sin Far, the titular character, Mrs Spring Fragrance, is described as having become Americanised since her arrival in Seattle, USA. Mrs Spring Fragrance is a Chinese woman who has lived in Seattle for five years, and in that time, she has swiftly mastered the English language and American customs. Her husband, Mr Spring Fragrance, remarks that there are "no more American words for her learning".
Mrs Spring Fragrance's Americanisation is a central theme of the story, and it is depicted as a source of conflict in her marriage. Mr Spring Fragrance is concerned that his wife's interest in Western poetry and American customs is making her more Americanised. He bases his entire opinion of American culture on a trivial misunderstanding of Western poetry, specifically a line by Tennyson that his wife quotes to a friend: 'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all". Mr Spring Fragrance's confusion is aggravated by a university student who interprets the poetry through a modern American bachelor's lens, further influencing his perception of his wife's Americanisation.
Mrs Spring Fragrance's Americanisation is portrayed as a positive aspect of her character, as she merges the best aspects of both Chinese and American cultures to create a harmonious identity. She acts as a cultural intermediary, integrating and navigating both worlds skillfully. For example, when her friend Laura confides that she does not want to follow her parents' wishes and enter an arranged marriage, Mrs Spring Fragrance helps her marry the man she truly loves without directly going against her parents' wishes.
Mrs Spring Fragrance's Americanisation is also presented with a touch of humour and irony. She attends a lecture titled "America—the Protector of China!" and sarcastically writes to her husband about the many ways in which America has "protected" them. This includes the government detaining his brother instead of allowing him to stay with them and the barber charging him more than American customers.
Overall, Mrs Spring Fragrance's Americanisation is a complex and multifaceted aspect of the story, portrayed with a mix of seriousness, humour, and irony. It highlights the cultural clash between the Spring Fragrances' Chinese heritage and the customs of their new country, and it serves as a critique of making irrational and unjustified judgments about different cultures.
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Mr Spring Fragrance's misunderstanding of Western poetry
Mr Spring Fragrance's confusion and anger lead him to conclude that his wife's Americanisation will ruin their marriage. He bases this conclusion on a trivial misunderstanding of Western poetry, specifically the lines "‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all". He interprets these lines as indicating his wife's desire to seek her true love, leading him to suspect her of infidelity. This rash conclusion highlights his tendency to stereotype and make irrational and unjustified judgments about American culture based on limited information.
Mrs Spring Fragrance, on the other hand, is described as being "so American that there are no more words for her learning", yet she remains deeply connected to her Chinese roots. She integrates aspects of both Chinese and American ways of life, acting as a cultural intermediary. While she advises her young friend Laura on love in America, quoting Western poetry, she also honours Chinese customs by not directly advising Laura to go against her parents' wishes. Instead, she employs a subtle strategy that satisfies all parties involved.
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Mr Spring Fragrance's confusion about Tennyson's nationality
Mrs Spring Fragrance befriends their neighbour, Laura, an eighteen-year-old Chinese immigrant. Laura confides in Mrs Spring Fragrance about her arranged marriage to a man she does not love. Mrs Spring Fragrance, drawing on her knowledge of Western poetry, advises Laura by quoting the famous lines by Tennyson: "'Tis better to have loved and lost. Than never to have loved at all."
Mr Spring Fragrance, who has been eavesdropping on the conversation, is perplexed by these lines of poetry. He mistakenly believes that Tennyson is an American poet, and his confusion is further aggravated by the interpretation provided by a university student, who is the sole prominent white American character in the narrative. The student, embodying the dominant American culture, fails to properly interpret Tennyson's poetry for Mr Spring Fragrance. Instead, the student becomes lost in his own thoughts about his past romantic relationships, reflecting on the women he has "loved and lost."
Mr Spring Fragrance's misunderstanding of Tennyson's nationality and his limited understanding of Western poetry lead him to make rash conclusions about his wife's fidelity. He believes that his wife's interest in Western poetry and her Americanization will ruin their marriage. He finds the poetry detestable and abhorrent, and his confusion and anger contribute to his negative views on American culture.
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Mr Spring Fragrance's concerns about his wife's fidelity
Mr Spring Fragrance's confusion is aggravated by his interaction with a university student, who interprets the poetry through a modern American bachelor's lens. The student is uninterested in helping Mr Spring Fragrance understand the poetry and is instead focused on his newspaper article about "authentic Chinese life". Mr Spring Fragrance's anxiety about his wife's fidelity leads him to host a "smoking party", excluding his wife, who is away in San Francisco.
Mr Spring Fragrance's rash conclusions about his wife's fidelity are a critique of making irrational and unjustified judgments. His entire opinion of American culture is based on a trivial misunderstanding of Western poetry, and he stereotypes it as "detestable, abhorrable". Mr Spring Fragrance's concerns about his wife's fidelity drive a wedge between them, and when Mrs Spring Fragrance returns from San Francisco, he is curt and aloof, barely speaking to her.
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Mr Spring Fragrance's old-fashioned notions about marriage
Mr Spring Fragrance's traditional mindset is further highlighted in his reaction to his wife's prolonged stay in San Francisco. He suspects her of having an affair, demonstrating his distrust and lack of understanding of her intentions. His rash conclusions and anger towards his wife's perceived infidelity showcase his rigid expectations of marriage and gender roles within the relationship.
Additionally, Mr Spring Fragrance's old-fashioned notions are reflected in his views on love and marriage. He disagrees with his wife's advice to their friend Laura, who is facing an arranged marriage. While Mrs Spring Fragrance encourages Laura to follow her heart and marry her true love, Kai Tzu, Mr Spring Fragrance likely upholds the traditional Chinese practice of arranged marriages, as seen in his agreement with the Chin Yuen parents' decision to arrange their daughter's marriage.
Mr Spring Fragrance's conservative beliefs also extend to his perception of gender roles within marriage. He expects his wife to be obedient and subservient, as seen in his request for her to bring him her parasol and folding fan. His behaviour towards his wife is curt and aloof when he suspects her of infidelity, indicating his belief in traditional gender dynamics where the husband has the power and the wife is expected to be loyal and submissive.
Overall, Mr Spring Fragrance's old-fashioned notions about marriage are characterised by his resistance to cultural change, traditional gender expectations, and rigid ideas about love and marriage. He struggles to accept his wife's adoption of American customs and poetry, fearing that it will threaten their marriage. His views on marriage are shaped by his conservative Chinese values, which contrast with his wife's more progressive and integrated perspective.
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Frequently asked questions
Mr. Spring Fragrance believes that his wife's interest in Western poetry is making her more Americanized. He overhears his wife, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, quoting the poet Tennyson to their neighbour, Laura, and is perplexed by the lines, "'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." He asks a university student to explain the poem's meaning, but the student is inattentive and instead becomes lost in a reverie about his numerous girlfriends. Mr. Spring Fragrance's confusion leads him to conclude that his wife is having an affair and that American culture is "detestable, abhorrable".
Mr. Spring Fragrance is worried that his wife's Americanization will ruin their marriage. He bases this belief on a trivial misunderstanding of Western poetry, specifically Tennyson's poem, which he incorrectly believes to be American.
Mrs. Spring Fragrance is described as being "so American that there are no more words for her learning" and is skilled at reciting Western poetry. She frequently quotes Tennyson, and her interest in American poetry is seen as a source of joy and connection to her husband, who she hopes will gain a better understanding of her through reading her poetry books.
