Wang Lung In Pearl S. Buck's The Good

Wang Lung is a very determined, hard-working and thoughtful man. However, when he decides to be thoughtful, the thoughts are only concerning himself and his desires, which are money, his land, and good fortune. He does not think much of those around him, such as his family. Family is everything to most people, but unfortunately not for Wang Lung. Without his family, there is no way he would end up on top of those in the community, and sadly, he does not realize this. For example, Pearl S. Buck writes, “And Wang Lung, dressed in his silken robe with his sons in good robes beside him on either hand…” (217). Wang Lung’s robe is described as “silken,” and his son’s robes are only to be described as “good.” This portrays that Wang Lung is in a

Without the earth itself, Wang Lung would be absolutely nowhere in life. He depends so much on his land and the goods he receives from it which causes him to think of everyone and everything around him worth less. Worth is such an important idea in The Good Earth because if Wang Lung knows his worth and what he is capable of doing, he will be able to focus on his family more than he does. Wang Lung is a very independent man, yet depends on others at the same time, such as O-lan, to retrieve everything he could ever hope for. In other words, Wang Lung’s whole world and happiness revolves around his good fortune. When he does not have “…sweet cakes and watermelon seeds and nuts upon the table, and red paper signs pasted upon his doors everywhere for the New Year and coming prosperity (117), he is not someone wants to be around. Wang Lung is one to do anything he thinks will be better for himself, and at times for his children, without thinking the situation all the way through and without thinking what the future outcomes and consequences could arise. For example, “He grew moody and petulant and would not eat this and that and he wearied of his books, and Wang Lung was frightened and did not know what to make of it and talked of a doctor” (217). As Wang Lung wants to find a girl for his son, he does not ask for his son’s input at all, until he sees his son change personalities. Wang Lung does what is best for him at that moment, not thinking of the past mistakes nor what the future could possibly hold, but only of the moment present. This is who Wang Lung is, throughout the whole book, and he does not change much. His character is based off the mistakes he makes when only thinking of the good fortune he imagines, but unfortunately he is not one to learn and get the most out of the mistakes he makes. Yes, the earth has been good to him, but Wang Lung