The Good Earth: Wang Lung – A Man Of Determination And Loyalty Essay, Research Paper

The Good Earth: Wang Lung – A Man of Determination and Loyalty

Pearl S. Buck shows her readers the many faces of Wang Lung in her book,

The Good Earth. Wang Lung is a rice farmer who gains all his wealth through the

land. He struggles to move from poverty to a well respected wealthy man. Wang

Lungs character portrays a man’s unselfishness, determination, and loyalty

towards his family and friends.

Wang Lung’s caring and generous nature towards his family and friends

make him a well-liked person. During the drought Wang Lung feeds the family

members first and leaves what little is left for himself. Though it is hard,

Wang Lung manages to survive the drought. He feeds the family small portions of

rice which are left over from the season. When the food runs out and the

furniture and equipment are sold, Wang Lung decides to make a harsh decision.

He decides to lock up and move south. There he hopes to find food and money for

his family. After a 100 mile train ride, they end up in the south. Wang Lung

is delighted to find rice for only a penny. While Wang Lung uses the ricksha to

make money for rice, the family eats and begins to regain strength. When all

is well, Wang Lung returns home to start his life all over.

Also during the drought Wang Lung spares food and money for his uncle,

uncles’s wife and their son. The uncle is a poor old gambler who would rather

gamble his money away than to spend it on his family. During the drought he

shows up in Wang Lung’s fields begging for money. At first Wang Lung refuses to

dish out money to his uncle. After a time of arguementing Wang Lung finally

gives in. He states ” ‘It is cutting my flesh out to give to him and for

nothing except that we are of a blood’ “.(46) Wang Lung is upset that he had to

give money to his uncle. Wang Lung didn’t have to give to his uncle, but by

doing so he kept peace with his him.

Wang Lung’s persistence to succeed carries him to a higher level in life.

With such an attitude he is determined to regain his wealth after the drought.

On the way home from down south, Wang Lung used the gold he had taken from the

man in the Great House to buy things for the land. He bought seeds to plant and

a new beast to plow the fields. Wang Lung figures this will give him what he

needs to work again in the fields. Wang Lung did all he could to make his land

be a success. By doing so he made money, and money meant more land.

Wang Lung puts all extra money either back into the land or spends it to

benefit his children. If Wang Lung is going to buy new land he wants one of his

kids to be literate. He decides to send two of his boys to school so he will

have someone to go with him to the merchants to sell his goods. Wang lung wants

to have a scholar in the family. In addition to sending them to school he makes

sure they are dressed nice and well mannered. The children later grow up to be

smart, kniving men. Though it may not work, Wang Lung tries his best to get the

most out of his children.

No matter what situation Wang Lung is in, he makes sure he stays

faithful to his family members. When O-Lan, his wife, wants to sell the young

fool’s life for food and money, Wang Lung stops her and will hear nothing of it.

While O-lan thinks this, Wang Lung says to her he would rather live down here

than have to sell one of his kids. He feels this will not solve the problem

and they will regret it in the long run. Wang Lung was sure his wife didn’t

sell the fool, therefore keeping him loyal to his family.

During the grandfather’s life, Wang Lung makes sure he is fed and looked

upon by someone. Pearl S. Buck states that the old man is “…half blind and

almost wholly deaf, and there was no need of speech with him except to ask to be

fed or to be brought a cup of warm tea.”(120). For this reason, he is in need

of someone to be a nurse to him. The old man is not able to live on his own,

therefore Wang Lung is sure that there is always someone there to look after his

father.

Pearl S. Buck elucidates the character of Wang Lung in many ways. She

gives him a wide array of personalities that the reader can dictate into a

unique man. Through his experiences with Lotus to his wealthieness as a Great

Man, Buck draws a mental picture of it all in the book, The Good Earth.