Character Analysis: The Good Earth

His moral ambiguity is heavily influenced by outside forces in his life that changes his view upon the world. The most excusable action in the eyes of the readers is when he commits a crime because his family is struggling in the southern city. Other citizens stricken by poverty tell Wang Lung that the riches do not belong to the wealthy, but to the poor. This conflicts with his belief that God determines one’s fate and way in life. Wang Lung goes against his morals and commits robbery because of his influence from others and the situation he was thrust into. This action determines Wang Lung’s wealthy future, but also symbolizes overcoming an obstacle, in this case, overcoming his internal conflict with his morals. The audience begins to notice the shift in Wang Lung’s character which will continue to develop negatively as his values are no longer intact.

People tend to take money very seriously whether its in the olden days or now, they always see it as the most important thing in life. Although wealth is money, and money is how you survive in the world, it can corrupt you. When Wang Lung, was just a simple poor farmer his life was easier and much more peaceful. He was a very humble honest person that loved working in the fields, but when he becomes a rich farmer and landowner, you see that everything changes. In the first couple years of O-lan and Wang Lungs marriage they lived a life of simplicity, where they would work in the fields together, earning a good amount of money to survive. For years they lived like that, but when a famine struck they were forced to move south. Hungry and

In Pearl S. Buck’s novel, The Good Earth, the protagonist, Wang Lung, starts out as a very poor farmer in China. He marries a slave named O-lan and starts a family with her. Famine soon strikes the town and there is no food to be found anywhere. Wang Lung moves his family South in hopes of finding a job there. Eventually, a group of poor people raid the homes of the rich. Wang Lung and O-lan both join in, getting away with enough gold and valuables to get back to their land in the North. Wang Lung uses this stolen money to buy more land and hire laborers. He quickly becomes one of the richest men in his town. Wang Lung, however, does not know that with great wealth comes great responsibility. His wealth corrupts him and his moral judgements become blurred. Wang

However, their fortune is short-lived when bad omens rise because of Wang Lung’s insolent behavior towards his uncle’s family. Not only is their third child born a daughter, but a drought begins, preventing the land from cultivating and spreading both poverty and starvation through the North.

Salva did not just have any life on foot like you and me he has some things that help him survive. In the

In Linda Sue Park’s novel, A Long Walk to Water, two Sudanese children take readers on a journey through their world. At different times in history, the stories of Nya, a young and carefree girl, and Salva, a boy with a humble heart, weave together to create an intriguing story with a hopeful message. Salva and Nya use perseverance to help them find success despite difficult circumstances, namely crossing the Akobo desert,leading the boys to Kenya, and the daily routine to receive water.

Holly Hollingsworth The Chosen Essay 11/20/15 Differences between people often cause resentment and anger. In chapter one of Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen, the main character, Reuven, struggles to control his emotions when confronted with an unfamiliar Hasidic baseball team. Potok uses Reuven’s first person point of view to reveal Reuven’s conflicting emotions towards Danny and his baseball team. Potok begins his novel with a striking observation to set the tone for the first chapter, acknowledging that the main character, Reuven, and another boy Danny live “within five blocks” of each other, but have never met or even known of the other boy before.

Do you remember when you were a specific age or have you discovered a time in your life? Where you looked at individuals and saw them for who they are and what or who they could be? It’s like you never bothered to see someone else purpose in life. So you start to question yourself for the reasoning of their presence. Think about a time in your life when someone just wanted to see the good in you and wanted you to live up to your full potential. Sylvia’s character in, “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara represents Sylvia's transitioning from her childhood to adulthood. It is motivated by Miss Moore's Lesson where the process of the growth is demonstrated through Sylvia’s life experiences which later makes her realize she needs to grow up.

“The Sound of Color” opened my eyes to the intricacies of American Sign Language. My only experiences with Deaf families and Deaf communities comes from the book “Burn Down the Ground” by Kambri Crews and the information I learned in CDS 201. Needless to say, I have a lot to learn. Uhlberg’s description of all the different ways people can display their sex, geographic origin, and personality through their use of sign enlightened me. I can vividly imagine a person who is shy, signing in a reserved, guarded and confined fashion, and then I see the person who is outgoing, signing in an expansive, full bodied and overly expressive way. Although people speaking in ASL may not have an audibly loud or soft voice, I now understand

The actions Wang Lung takes in the southern city of Kiangsu show how desperation can manipulate anyone’s actions and corrupt their values. In the beginning of the story, Wang Lung has a set of strong morals-- he detests stealing, prizes hard work, and respects his elders. However, due to a famine, Wang Lung and his family are forced to move to Kiangsu. In this great, ostentatious city with “...food spilling out of the markets, ... the streets of the silk shops flying brilliant banners of black and red and orange silk to announce their wares, …[and] rich men clothed in satin and velvet…” (Buck 120), Wang Lung, who comes from a poor farming village, feels like a foreigner.

In pre-revolutionary China, the people were either poor farmers, part of rich families, or busy city-goers. There was a drastic difference between the social classes, but each class placed great value on traditions in the family and in society. For example, the Chinese treated the elder in a family with great respect. People also placed great value on the idols and gods that they worshiped. Just as traditions were changing in China, customs also altered in the Wang family. In The Good Earth Wang Lung’s sons do not grow up worshiping the Earth Gods as their father had done, no longer hold the same positive attitude towards the Earth, and reject filial piety altogether. In The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Wang Lung’s children are raised in an

Humans since the beginning of their existence on Earth have inherently been inclined to be good as opposed to being evil. This idea can be be loosely argued as devastation by humans swept the land in the past events leading up to the present, but also vice versa there has been kindhearted movements by civilizations of people that helped humanity. Created in the image and likeness of God, there has been some guiding lights and principles that have led humanity to its current stage in time. Every person has the tools inside of them to choose, in a given scenario, what is the right thing to do and what is not. Throughout this essay, the best and worst of human character will be discussed in the book All thee Light We Cannot See.

O-lan and Wang Lung demonstrate to the readers consistent acts of faithfulness, proving their virtues. The couple’s diligence moves them higher in social status, which brings honor to their lives and family. Unlike Lung’s Uncle and Cousin, who’s habitual dishonesty prove their vice and laziness. These characteristics result in dishonor, and the pair’s unfulfilling lives. Rewards in life, come from hard work, slowly and consistently working towards a goal, if there is no work there is no reward. Israelmore Ayivor, the inspirational author, said it best,“Leaders get to tall heights by taking short steps. Being faithful, diligent and consistent with little steps is the secret to mounting greater heights.”

As one of the most influential beliefs, Confucianism dominates Chinese interpersonal relationshiop, and Confucian filial piety provides a guiding principle governing Chinese familiesm. For parenting methods, it is “associated with rigidity, low cognitive complexity, and negative personality orientation in children, and with harsh, controlling, or overprotective childrearing practices” (Ho 1994, ). Since Jason’s parents wish him to take over the family business and continue the family’s fame, the family lineage through marriage and children. In this context, the strong traditional beliefs lead to the “authoritarian parenting style, Jason’s parents are highly likely to suppress Jason’s interest and dream, they might ask Jason unconditionally to obey their wishes”

In “The Journey to the West,” the monk was accompanied by Pigsy, the Sha Monk, the Handsome Monkey King, and the horse. Each of these supporting characters possess a certain magical ability that assisted the monk on his journey, additionally they had their own flaws. This contrasts the monk, which has no magical ability and was devoted buddhism. The strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds of these supporting characters encapsulate the idea of buddhism throughout the novel, and by including them and Xuanzang the book is able to summarize the idea of buddhism.