Mrs. Spring Fragrence

346 Words2 Pages
At the heart of the story of Mrs. Spring Fragrance is a timeless story of misinterpreted messages and communication breakdowns. Placed against the background story of young forbidden love, the tale of paranoid miscommunication between two people who love each other is the real focus of this piece, and is one that has appeared in any number of literary works. The story is universal, though the language with which the author tells that story almost makes it appear as a fable. What I found most interesting about the story of Mr. and Mrs. Spring Fragrance is how well it mixes American and Chinese ideologies. Mrs. Spring Fragrance keeps the secrets of two young couples whose love directly contradicts the Chinese traditions that their parents believe in and that she herself was married under. As Mr. Spring Fragrance learns this is the American ideal, that love must come before marriage, and it is that ideal that causes his fear that he is losing his wife as she becomes Americanized. Mr. Spring Fragrance’s fear is needless as he at least discovers that his wife’s love has not wavered. The author imparts upon the reader the idea that the American love story is no greater than the Chinese tradition. While the story of the young lovers is romantic, it is the love shared between Mr. and Mrs. Spring Fragrance that continues to last despite the fact of their arranged marriage. While Mrs. Spring Fragrance has become Americanized in many ways, and supports couples who have grabbed on to romantic American ideals, she views her own marriage and husband to be just as romantic and loving; leaving the reader to believe that both forms of marriage are equally valid, if not far stronger when steeped in the traditions of their own heritage. On a personal note, I find myself wondering about the futures of the two young couples who have confided in Mrs. Spring Fragrance, and
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