Good Earth Movie Vs Book

The film and novel of Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth differ in many ways, which include those related to the plot, the portrayal of characters, and the overall theme conveyed by the story. In my opinion, the novel more strongly conveys what I believe was Buck’s intended message, while the film shows a faster-paced plot that was likely more easily understood by the American public at the time of its release. Initially, the film appears to follow the novel’s plotline, but strays from the mood conveyed by the author’s words. O-lan, the wife taken by the main character, Wang Lung, appears clueless and senseless at the beginning of the movie. In the novel, she is simply timid and fearful. I believe this mistake was crucial to changing the theme. O-lan was simply misjudged by the young men in Chinese society in the novel, and then proved herself to be Wang Lung’s most useful asset. By portraying her as clueless and senseless in the beginning, the film implies that she learned all that she knew from Wang Lung and the people of the high house, and simply made it through difficult times with her husband. …show more content…
The novel describes each son’s birth, and each helps convey the theme. Additionally, the novel describes the growth and development of each son, allowing the reader to see how he changes with time. The sons who grow up working Wang Lung’s fields become strong men and develop a work ethic that will help them succeed in the competitive society as they mature. The sons who grow up in wealth, with comfort and luxury, become weak and unwilling to work. The idea that working on the land is essential to success and well-being is repeated time and time again throughout the novel, but is often missing in the messages conveyed by the