Mr. Spring’s ‘Americanization’ - “Mrs. Spring Fragrance”
In the exposition, Mr. Spring is described as ‘Americanized’; this description is ironic considering “Mr. Spring Fragrance entertained as old-fashioned notions concerning marriage as did the Chin Yuen parents.” If Mr. Spring were unquestionably Americanized, he would not have sanctioned arranged matrimonial although it had functioned for him. His sponsorship of arranged matrimony renders him unAmericanized. Besides, it is ironic for Mr. Spring Fragrance to proclaim “American poetry is detestable, abhorrable!” yet he cites the poetry when he writes to Mrs. Fragrance. If the poetry were despicable then he would not have quoted it. The irony portrays Mr. Fragrance's Americanization which is ascribed to the ideological contradiction, whereby he thinks that approving American poetry would be tantamount to disputing his Chinese culture.
“Beautiful above/How unbeautiful below!”- “Its Wavering Image”
Marks’ ironic remark: “beautiful above \ How unbeautiful below!” infers that Pan is both ‘beautiful’ and ‘unbeautiful’ which is contingent on which race she elects. Selecting Chinese renders her unbeautiful whereas choosing white makes her ‘beautiful.’ Additionally, Pan’s capacity to ward off the allure of white superiority is ironic in view of the prominent notions vis-à-vis the exquisiteness of whiteness.
