How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Their view; it is cosmic. Not of a man here, a child there, but air abstraction: race, land. Volk. Land. Blut. Ehre. Not of honorable men but of Ehre itself, honor; the abstract is real, the actual is invisible to them. Die Gute, but not good men but of Ehre itself, honor; the abstract is real, the actual is invisible to them. Die Gute, but not good men, this good man. It is their sense of space and time. (3.120)
According to Baynes, Nazi German society is largely organized around their visions of the world. That makes some sense. Aren't all societies organized around what they value? So the problem with Nazi society is that their values are so screwed up, to put it lightly. But what values do we see in Japanese or American society?
Quote #5
Peering over his shoulder, Frink saw a bracelet design, an abstract with flowing lines. "Is there a market?" All he had ever seen were the traditional—even antique—objects from the past. "Nobody wants contemporary American; there isn't any such thing, not since the war." (4.21)
Speaking of values, in Japanese-controlled (basically) San Francisco, Frank and Ed find a society that isn't really interested in contemporary American stuff. This is the situation they find themselves in, but by the end of the book, they have created a (little) market for their jewelry. So is this an example of how social values can slowly change?
Quote #6
Well, he thought, it probably would be cheaper to offer them two thousand or so. They'd accept it; that was probably all they wanted. Little fellows like that thought small; to them it would seem like a lot. They'd put in their new business, lose it, be broke again inside a month. (5.13)
We don't get a lot from Wyndam-Matson's POV, but as a rich, powerful American, he has a particular view on the social situation. For him, one of the big differences in society isn't Japanese vs. American, but big guys (like him) vs. "little fellows" like Frank and Ed. (How little are they? They have first names, unlike Wyndam-Matson, who can afford two last names.)