Comparing Suffering In Nectar In A Sieve And The Good Earth

Suffering is a big theme in both Nectar In A Sieve and The Good Earth. Both main characters expierecne suffering in varying ways and also manage it in varying ways. The land and nature also seem to tie in with suffering at times in both books, Both Rukmani and Wang Lung depend on the land to survive and thrive, but it proves to be their downfall at times. Although both characters work hard to live off the land suffering seems to strike them when they least expect it.

In Nectar In A Sieve, Rukmani’s suffering stems from nature her family. She watches as her family starves and her family splits apart She has to suffer when her child becomes blind due to lack of nutrition She also has to suffer when she holds her husband, Nathan, as he dies. Rukmani also suffers through the land, when the season is bad and produces little crop they go hungry and have little money to spend which forces them to sell clothes and vases to cover their charges. Rukmani seems to deal with her suffering by keeping it to herself and not callingout for help, She later tells Kenny that they are taught by

Part of Nathan's suffering seems to affect him on a personal level, Although his best efforts, Nathan suffers to see his family hungry and poor and is upset that he can not provide for his family what is needed. his suffering also comes from his sons decision to work at the tannery instead work on the land that Nathan’s whole life is wrapped up in. Nathan handles the suffering of his family by feeling impotent because he cannot provide for his family and also by cursing at the overlords stating "That is why he and his kind are employed, To protect overlords from such unpleasant tasks. Now the landlord can wring from us his moneys and care not for the misery he evokes, for indeed it would be difficult for any man to see another starve and his wife and children as well; or to enjoy the profits born of such