Chin Yuen’s House - “Mrs. Spring Fragrance”
Sui Sun writes, “Although the Chin Yuen parents lived in a house furnished in American style, and wore American clothes, yet they religiously observed many Chinese customs, and their ideals of life were the ideals of their Chinese forefathers. Therefore, they had betrothed their daughter, Laura, at the age of fifteen, to the eldest son of the Chinese Government school-teacher in San Francisco. The time for the consummation of the betrothal was approaching.” The house’s form endorses Americanization; however, it does not emulate the couple’s philosophies. The house gives visitors the impression that the family is American because of the American superfluities. Through the house, a reader settles that the ‘American versus Chinese’ binary governs the immigrants’ presence in America. Externally, they endorse Americanism, but intrinsically they adopt the Chinese archetypes.
Chinatown - “Its Wavering Image”
Pan is totally accustomed to Chinatown: “Meanwhile, in full trust and confidence, she ( Pan) led him (Mark) about Chinatown, initiating him into the simple mystery and history of many things, for which she, being of her father's race, had a tender regard and pride. For her sake he was received as a brother by the yellow-robed priest in the joss house, the Astrologer of Prospect Place, and other conservative Chinese. The Water Lily Club opened its doors to him when she knocked, and the Sublimely Pure Brothers' organization admitted him as one of its honorary members, thereby enabling him not only to see but to take part in a ceremony in which no American had ever before participated. With her by his side, he was welcomed wherever he went. Even the little Chinese women in the midst of their babies, received him with gentle smiles, and the children solemnly munched his candies and repeated nursery rhymes for his edification.” The imagery of Chinatown and the reception that Mark relishes while in Pan’s company endorses that the Chinese people regard Pan as one of them, although she is biracial. In the nonappearance of Pan, Mark would have not flourished in sightseeing Chinatown which is the embodiment of a pluralistic civilization.
