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Wang Lung's Life In The Good Earth

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In the novel The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, the reader follows the main character Wang Lung as he lives in the shifting nation of China. The novel begins on Wang Lung’s wedding day as he travels to the great house of the city to marry his new wife- a former slave named O-Lan. Wang Lung never truly loves O-Lan, but respects her for her hard work. Together the two work on the family’s small plot of land. O-Lan successfully births three children, and all is well until the famine strikes. A drought sweeps across the city, and the population starves. Lung’s family has no choice but to run to the city for their only chance at survival. In the city, Lung is exposed to a lifestyle he has never been accustomed to before. There is word of rebellion …show more content…

He becomes unhappy with his farmer lifestyle and turns to a materialistic life to satisfy him. He purchases a concubine, Lotus, and spends all his time with her. He spends money carelessly, giving Lotus whatever she desires, and ignores his own family to satisfy his selfish whims. O-Lan crumbles into depression, and spends the rest of her life in jealousy and despair. He sends his two oldest sons off to be scholars, and his youngest son is left in the dust. The youngest becomes angsty and spiteful and runs off to become a war general in the upcoming revolution. His eldest sons return to take care of the family home, and together they raise families of their own. O-Lan eventually passes away due to disease, and Lung is left alone with Lotus. As Wang Lung grows older, he becomes less in touch with the current world. He leaves his sons to do whatever they please- as long as they never sell his precious land. The novel ends with Wang Lung speaking to his sons and grandchildren. His grandchildren chide him for being so old-fashioned and not knowing of the revolution that has greatly changed the nation. His sons speak of selling the land, which brings Lung to tears as he cries that losing the land will break the family. His children assure him that that will never happen, but they proceed with the transaction

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