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What Does O Lan Symbolize The Good Earth

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The Good Earth is set in early 20th century rural China, where the Earth is a significant part of life. To Wang Lung, the protagonist of the novel, his wife, O-lan, is also a very important part of his life. O-lan, like most women in the country, works diligently to prepare the meals and clean the house. Additionally, she works out in the hot fields with Wang Lung every day. When first married, Wang Lung and O-lan struggled to provide for their family. However, in time, the family begins to prosper; O-lan and the land both help propel the Wang family into a life of security and affluence. This is only one of the ways that O-lan and the Earth are alike, there are many others. In this novel by Pearl Buck, O-lan symbolizes the earth.

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