(Good Earth Essay Test): Society’s Flaws and Underlying Universal Human Instincts
As Wang Lung, and his family struggle to survive against grim seasons of famine, drought and flood, their memoirs showcase human perseverance and integrity. In Pearl S. Buck’s novel, The Good Earth, the protagonist, Wang Lung, experiences a series of sequential circumstances that allows him to experience life’s hardships and fortunes. In a 1930s newspaper article from the New York Times, the Good Earth is praised as “A comment upon the meaning and tragedy of life as it is lived in every quarter of the globe.” In rural China, Wang Lung experiences life as it is conveyed in the lives of every individual by riding the endless roller coaster of life through every …show more content…
As humans grow older, it is an undeniable fact that they will die one day. In the novel, Wang Lung is shown depicting remorse and sorrow after the tragic death of his first wife, O-lan, and his beloved neighbor, long-time friend and hard working foreman on his field, Ching. At first Wang Lung seemed content of O-lan with his only disappointment being that her feet were unbound. As money came, he started to view her as more and more so ugly and repulsive only to eventually replace her with a concubine called Lotus. It was only then after her death and the household falling into chaos that he realized the worth, loyalty and benevolent spirit that was O-lan. Throughout their marriage Wang Lung truly spoke and done horrible things to, O-lan despite her efforts to please Wang Lung. For example, he took her most precious items two pearls and gave them to Lotus, he called her ugly and worthless even though she followed him and bore him sons, and the most tragic thing would have to be Wang Lung could not force himself to love her even though he tries so hard to in the end. O-lan truly is an admirable person and her death represents the bliss adolescence in every human’s heart: how can a person feel true love unless he/she has felt loss in their lives? Throughout her life O-lan performs unimaginable acts of strength, intelligence and resilience. First she gives birth silent without the aid of another woman, and she finds jewels among the ransacked and violent raids upon the palaces wealthy lords in the South. She is the sole reason for Wang Lung’s wealth, by selling her jewels he gains massive amounts of land that provides plentiful harvests yet Wang Lung takes her precious pearls and replaces her with a concubine. On her deathbed, the final words she utters to Wang Lung’s concubine are words of victory and pride. "Well, and if
As Wang Lung, and his family struggle to survive against grim seasons of famine, drought and flood, their memoirs showcase human perseverance and integrity. In Pearl S. Buck’s novel, The Good Earth, the protagonist, Wang Lung, experiences a series of sequential circumstances that allows him to experience life’s hardships and fortunes. In a 1930s newspaper article from the New York Times, the Good Earth is praised as “A comment upon the meaning and tragedy of life as it is lived in every quarter of the globe.” In rural China, Wang Lung experiences life as it is conveyed in the lives of every individual by riding the endless roller coaster of life through every …show more content…
As humans grow older, it is an undeniable fact that they will die one day. In the novel, Wang Lung is shown depicting remorse and sorrow after the tragic death of his first wife, O-lan, and his beloved neighbor, long-time friend and hard working foreman on his field, Ching. At first Wang Lung seemed content of O-lan with his only disappointment being that her feet were unbound. As money came, he started to view her as more and more so ugly and repulsive only to eventually replace her with a concubine called Lotus. It was only then after her death and the household falling into chaos that he realized the worth, loyalty and benevolent spirit that was O-lan. Throughout their marriage Wang Lung truly spoke and done horrible things to, O-lan despite her efforts to please Wang Lung. For example, he took her most precious items two pearls and gave them to Lotus, he called her ugly and worthless even though she followed him and bore him sons, and the most tragic thing would have to be Wang Lung could not force himself to love her even though he tries so hard to in the end. O-lan truly is an admirable person and her death represents the bliss adolescence in every human’s heart: how can a person feel true love unless he/she has felt loss in their lives? Throughout her life O-lan performs unimaginable acts of strength, intelligence and resilience. First she gives birth silent without the aid of another woman, and she finds jewels among the ransacked and violent raids upon the palaces wealthy lords in the South. She is the sole reason for Wang Lung’s wealth, by selling her jewels he gains massive amounts of land that provides plentiful harvests yet Wang Lung takes her precious pearls and replaces her with a concubine. On her deathbed, the final words she utters to Wang Lung’s concubine are words of victory and pride. "Well, and if