Who Is Wang Lung's Life In 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.

All the land was dry and Wang Lung could only rely on 1 piece of land. O-lan’s milk “dried up” and Wang Lung had to sell all of his grain right away, but he was still determined. Then came a hug drought with everyone fighting to survive. Then came a day when Wang Lung’s uncle came to ask for food, but was sent empty handed since Wang Lung couldn’t spare any food. After this his uncle “turned against him” and told all of the villagers that Wang Lung had lots of food, but was keeping it to himself.

At first Wang Lung and his family were fine, eating enough to keep them alive, but when he becomes so desperate to return home to his old life you see that his values change. From believing stealing wasn't right to stealing to get what he desired. The stolen jewels O-lan had, was the start of his prosperity in wealth. Slowly and slowly the richer Wang Lung gets, the more you see that he stops caring about his values and beliefs. He used to believe in hard work, doing everything on his own, but when his wealth gives him the possibility of getting people to do it for him, he changes, delegating to others what to do. Wang Lung for awhile becomes this whole other person, he doesn't care how much money he spends, he starts spending money buying things for Lotus his prostitute and even buying expensive clothes for himself. People start regarding him as a rich and important man. He forgets that not long ago he was a common person, who barely had enough money to eat and now with the wealth getting to him he starts to despise them. Enjoying the wealth and power, Wang Lung allows himself to buy land from the House of Hwang because he enjoys that it symbolizes wealth and power. After living most of his life unhappy at seventy years of age Wang Lung realizes that he wants to go back

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.

At the beginning of the book, the author really describes how Wang Lung is feeling. Wang Lung really did not want to be in that house any longer. He didn’t like anything about it. His father was really cruel, he did all the work and he hated working so much. This is probably why he wanted to get a wife so badly.

Also as his life goes on, he meets a girl named Lotus and he does things with her, and Wang Lung changes himself for her. In chapter 19, on page 184 Wang Lung buys new clothes and shaves off his hair above his forehead that he was growing out. Awhile later Wang Lung's uncle comes with his family. They find out on page 195 that Wang Lung has a thing going on with Lotus, In the book, Wang Lung’s Uncle’s wife said, “ The thing is complete, The woman who is

Despite the multiple decisions that Wang Lung chooses to make, the reader still observes that Wang Lung is a human. This makes it possible to understand Wang Lung’s faults are just him being humanly imperfect. Even if Wang Lung had generated more sound resolutions, perfection would still be unattainable by him. A quote from Liza M. Wiemer states, “For whatever it’s worth, I believe we’re born imperfect, and perfection, whatever that may be, is unattainable by us mere humans.” Wang Lung is comparable to all other mere humans in the idea that no one is perfect and all people make mistakes.

These specific details are important not only in bringing the reader into the poem, but also for what they represent. There is no description of human interaction in Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields I, but Tao Qian gives subtle clues that he wants to be part of a community. That “faint blur of smoke” (Owen, 316) beyond the trees is proof of neighbours, but more importantly, builds a cozy impression. Smoke from “village hearths” (Owen, 316) brings up associations of cooking and heating, both central to human comfort. Even the descriptions of hearing the dog and rooster could be interpreted as evidence of other people living nearby. It suggests man and animal living peacefully together, and again points to being one with nature. Through small details like this, even though we never see them, the reader gets a warm sense of being part of a surrounding community.

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.

he author of “The good Earth” shows the readers that nothing can just become a reality through magic but that you have to work hard to make your dreams a reality. The author shows that nothing can just be handed to you easily out in the real world. Wang Lung and his family have to go through a lot of hard times to be able to get the the good ones. Wang Lung and his family's hard work and endless fighting would make them agree with Colin Powell who stated “A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”

This is easily the most tragic event that happens to Wang Lung throughout the story, and although the sorrow of O-lan’s death grieves him, the one thing that saddens Wang Lung the most is his regrets over his coldness towards his wife due to his affair with Lotus. This is shown in the quote, “And out of his heaviness there stood out strangely but one clear thought and it was a pain to him, and it was this, that he wished he had not taken the two pearls from O-lan that day when she was washing his clothes at the pool, and he would never bear to see Lotus put them in her ears again.” As can be seen in this quote, one thing that greatly pains Wang Lung after his wife’s death, even standing out over his grief over losing her, is his regrets over his cruelty to her. This event in Wang Lung’s life is one that has occured in the lives of people everywhere in the world thoughout the ages, and is relatable to people across the globe.

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.”

It is a tradition within the family to observe the God's presence in their lives. For example, when the first drought hits the town, Wang Lung can be seen shouting in anger at the sky. “ “ Oh, you are too wicked, Old Man in Heaven! ...what has happened to me worse than that which has happened!” (Page 76).” While Wang Lung acknowledges that the Gods are at work, he is also scared of them, demonstrated by the second half of the quote. The sons do not acknowledge a hardship as a God at work to destroy them because they have been displeased, but simply as an unfortunate event. For instance, during the second drought, Lung can again be seen cursing the Gods. However, the sons do not think that the Gods have been displeased and the drought is their anger. All they see it as is a restriction on how much they can eat and the eldest brother is more concerned about keeping his cousin away from his wife than the flooding of the fields. ¨He guarded his wife jealously from the gaze of his cousin... (Page 276).¨ It is only Lung and Ching who accept that the Gods are having their way with the fields, and causing

Unlike past generations, Lung’s sons do not fully understand the true importance of the land. Growing up, Lung was forced to tend the land day in and day out. He depended on the earth everyday. His house was made out of the earth. The earth provided the structure for his gods. When him and the family were experienced the famine, the earth filled their rattling stomachs. But when Lung’s son grew up they never cared about the earth. The sons thought of it just as dirt and not gold like Lung did. They never were forced to work him the fields like their father. The very last paragraphs in the book, when Lung is dying he sons are talking about what they are going to do with all of their father’s land after he is dead. They both agreed that they