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The Good Earth

 

            
            
            
             Wang Lung is a simple, hardworking Chinese farmer. He is the main character or central figure in the story of "The Good Earth". Most of the story is told through his eyes. Wang is warm, believable, and sympathetic. But as a human, he also has his flaws. He is quite temperamental and often acts on impulse and also seems to care too much of what other people may think of him so he tends to give in to situations too easily. He depends greatly on his wife O-lan who gives him strength and decisiveness. As he grows older he only finds peace in his land. The land is his livelihood, his security and the source from which he draws spiritual refreshment. .
             O-lan.
             O-lan could be characterized as the most appealing character in the book. She doesn't really express herself through words but one can learn a great deal of her thoughts and feelings from her actions. Her poor parents sold her to the great Hwang household at the age of ten, during a famine. O-lan was a good worker and so was kept as a kitchen slave. When she turned twenty, she was sold to be Wang Lung's wife. She is quick and thorough in performing her household duties, so that she has more time to do what is expected of her. Although she is slow in her speech, O-lan is not slow-witted. She is alert to everything that is going on around her.
             * OTHER CHARACTERS.
             Wang Lung's Father.
             Once a hard-working farmer, he is now a frail old man who demands the care and respect due to him in his old age. He complains when his demands for comfort are not met and scolds Wang Lung for being to lavish. Yet, this old man has absolute faith that his sons and grandsons will take care of him, and he endures the hardships of the famine with good nature. .
             Wang Lung's Uncle.
             The younger brother of Wang Lung's father, he is a shiftless farmer who is careless of his house and lets his children run wild in town. He exploits the traditional obligation toward blood relatives to prey upon Wang.


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