Good evening, Ladies. I have read The Good Earth a couple of times, once in high school or college and once about ten years ago as part of the curriculum in my high school world studies class. I didn't re-read it this time, but I re-read my marginal notes, which were extensive. I have been particularly interested in the way literature changes with what we bring to it as individuals. My reactions ten years ago were vastly different from my reactions as a young reader and it was fun to re-read them today.
I have really enjoyed everyone's comments thus far. KT, I thought your comment on blaming the gods when things go badly but not praising them when things go well was right on. I also appreciated Laurenda's comment about O-lan leaving the fields to give birth by herself and Katrina's comment about Buck's challenges in getting the book published in the first place. I wasn't aware of this.
Having had the opportunity to teach the history of China, I find this book so true to the culture. The "Dynastic Cycle," or rise and fall of "houses" in China is very similar to the cycle of righteousness in The Book of Mormon. According to the wisdom of Confucious, a house rises to power when the gods are pleased with them. The people will know the gods are pleased when the lives of the people go well: rain in its season, plentiful crops, stable government, honorable rulers, etc. As the dynasty ages, corruption creeps in and the gods are displeased which is demonstrated by drought, instability and war. This results in the overthrow of the old dynasty and the beginning of a new one which lasts until they become corrupt and the cycle begins again. The House of Hwang and Wang Lung's family story fit the cycle well.
Wang Lung's attitude toward the land could also symbolize a person's attachment to his/her roots, values, heritage whether or not that is actual "land." It is important that we pass those values on to the next generation or they will abandon the things which should be of value in their lives, just as Wang Lung's sons did. The counsel to "remember" that is repeated again and again in the scriptures is to counter the human tendency to forget the things that made individuals, families and societies strong in the first place.
I have also been frustrated by the lack of value for women in turn-of-the century China. The destruction of the rigid social structure of Confucious was a goal of the communists. However, societal attitudes are hard to eliminate. I have still seen some "anti-girl" attitudes in my Asian students. I also have read that the one-child policy of China today has led to the modern-day infanticide of girl babies in the drive to have an male heir, especially in the smaller villages.
One other point, although the foot-binding of ancient China is hard to believe, the parents did it to ensure their daughters' future happiness. I am sure there are things we do as a society today that, while well-intentioned, are harmful to girls. "Take gymnastics and dance." "Do everything and do it well." Get "A's." "Thin is beautiful." "Beauty is valuable." "Perfect is expected." Society sends lots of messages and parents buy into them as well to help their daughters have a happy future. It can be crippling to girls and I see this in some of my students.
There is so much of value in The Good Earth. I am glad for the opportunity to discuss it. Thanks!
--Karen S.
Wednesday, April 26
the Good Earth
I realize this is a last-minute post and I don't have time to do it justice, but wanted you to know I read and enjoyed the book. I guess I was being optimistic, though, in that I thought something dramatic would happen to change Wang so that he would show love to O-lan before she died. I had hoped that at least she would get the pearls back. That really bothered me. Over-all, a thought provoking book that made me extremely grateful to live now in this country( especially with my size 10 feet- ha, ha). Seriously, I can't imagine regarding a daughter as any less than a son. That's so sad. My brother-in-law lives in China( He's been there about two years and plans on about five more to go through medical school). I will have to ask him what it's like now. I know in some ways it has changed a lot, but I would guess that in other ways it is much the same. Anyway, this isn't much of a post, but thanks for the book selection. I can't wait to read the next one.
Sunday, April 23
The Good Earth
I should have done this the day I finished the book a couple of weeks ago because I've forgotten so much!!! Still!!!! Let me just say, I really enjoyed The Good Earth and thought it was a fascinating look at a culture as interpreted through Pearl Buck's eyes. I remember reading part of the bio of Pearl Buck and noting that it said that, for the era when she was writing, it was shocking that she had written it from a male's point of view. Isn't that fascinating??? Yet, I found her main character, Wang Lung, to be a very human protagonist--I appreciated him and yet sometimes I was angry with his choices. In that, I guess I was able to really relate to him! :)
I appreciated his love for his land, even if I questioned his motives for getting more and more and the ultimate price he paid for it. I loved that he cared for "his fool" and made sure that she was looked after her entire life (once again illustrating that you truly love those who you serve). My favoriate character was O-lan (though, pregnant with my 3rd baby, I can't see how on EARTH she delivered those kids quietly and without someone's help!!!!) and yet I yearned for her to find some happiness...I don't know that she ever did. Maybe contentment, but who knows if she was every happy or if she felt she deserved to be happy, having been brought up a slave and raised with that mentality. I thought it was so interesting that O-lan was considered "ugly" because of her "big feet," and that she made sure to bind the feet of her daughters so they wouldn't have to suffer the same fate. And I was so sad for O-lan, who felt so unloved because of her position and her "ugliness," even though her family would not have survived without her. I mean, had it not been for her cunning to grab the jewels, Wang Lung would never have been able to amass the fortune that he had gained after the drought. I must say that I feel that Wang Lung DID love O-lan, just not in the romantic way that perhaps was the "expectation" and he keenly felt that loss, because his life was just not the same after she passed. Also, he regretted taking away her earrings in order to please Lotus, whom he thought he desperately "loved" (ha! talk about a great example of infatuation) but who later became such a burden. I also thought it was fascinating to read about about the "Red Beard" mob who struck such horror in the farmlands in China, and to discover that the uncle belonged to this faction. It was interesting that one of the reasons Wang Lung was protected was because his uncle was in that mob, and yet how hard it was for Wang Lung to honor his uncle (and subsequently his family), even though he had to for traditions sake, and how interesting that opium turned out to be the way to "deal" with them.
I read some of the Oprah Book Club questions which I found at the back of my particular book edition, and found one especically fascinating. Basically, it was "Who did you feel most sorry for--O-lan or Lotus" because both had come from such horrid backgrounds. Obviously, since O-lan was my favorite character, I felt more for her (maybe I identified more with her because of my own self esteem issues I'm working on). But I couldn't be completely unempathetic to Lotus, though I found her character to be extremely spoiled and such a cause of contention. I think that through these two characters, I was reminded again of how difficult life was for woman in China. They had such few options: slave, prostitute, wife--if your family had dowry enough. How easy it was to dispose of women (I think back to that baby O-lan killed) and what a commodity they were!!!! Yes, you needed a woman to have a family, but how sad was it that when O-lan had children, we learned of the boys' names, but of the girls, we only heard that another "slave" had been born. It made Wang Lung's tenderness for his fool all the more important to me.
I thought the ending of the book was equally fascinating, as Wang Lung's educated sons (who had not worked the land, really) plotted to start selling it off. They, who had not had to experience true labor and had grown accustomed to an easy life, had no appreciation of the hard work that had gone on to create their lives. So telling for all of us!!! We hear it often today (even my generation and I'm 36) that so many of us take so many things for granted, which we do.
All in all, it was just a fascinating book--and one that was very easy to read. Very enjoyable. :) I look forward to reading everyone's review!!!!
:) Laurenda
I appreciated his love for his land, even if I questioned his motives for getting more and more and the ultimate price he paid for it. I loved that he cared for "his fool" and made sure that she was looked after her entire life (once again illustrating that you truly love those who you serve). My favoriate character was O-lan (though, pregnant with my 3rd baby, I can't see how on EARTH she delivered those kids quietly and without someone's help!!!!) and yet I yearned for her to find some happiness...I don't know that she ever did. Maybe contentment, but who knows if she was every happy or if she felt she deserved to be happy, having been brought up a slave and raised with that mentality. I thought it was so interesting that O-lan was considered "ugly" because of her "big feet," and that she made sure to bind the feet of her daughters so they wouldn't have to suffer the same fate. And I was so sad for O-lan, who felt so unloved because of her position and her "ugliness," even though her family would not have survived without her. I mean, had it not been for her cunning to grab the jewels, Wang Lung would never have been able to amass the fortune that he had gained after the drought. I must say that I feel that Wang Lung DID love O-lan, just not in the romantic way that perhaps was the "expectation" and he keenly felt that loss, because his life was just not the same after she passed. Also, he regretted taking away her earrings in order to please Lotus, whom he thought he desperately "loved" (ha! talk about a great example of infatuation) but who later became such a burden. I also thought it was fascinating to read about about the "Red Beard" mob who struck such horror in the farmlands in China, and to discover that the uncle belonged to this faction. It was interesting that one of the reasons Wang Lung was protected was because his uncle was in that mob, and yet how hard it was for Wang Lung to honor his uncle (and subsequently his family), even though he had to for traditions sake, and how interesting that opium turned out to be the way to "deal" with them.
I read some of the Oprah Book Club questions which I found at the back of my particular book edition, and found one especically fascinating. Basically, it was "Who did you feel most sorry for--O-lan or Lotus" because both had come from such horrid backgrounds. Obviously, since O-lan was my favorite character, I felt more for her (maybe I identified more with her because of my own self esteem issues I'm working on). But I couldn't be completely unempathetic to Lotus, though I found her character to be extremely spoiled and such a cause of contention. I think that through these two characters, I was reminded again of how difficult life was for woman in China. They had such few options: slave, prostitute, wife--if your family had dowry enough. How easy it was to dispose of women (I think back to that baby O-lan killed) and what a commodity they were!!!! Yes, you needed a woman to have a family, but how sad was it that when O-lan had children, we learned of the boys' names, but of the girls, we only heard that another "slave" had been born. It made Wang Lung's tenderness for his fool all the more important to me.
I thought the ending of the book was equally fascinating, as Wang Lung's educated sons (who had not worked the land, really) plotted to start selling it off. They, who had not had to experience true labor and had grown accustomed to an easy life, had no appreciation of the hard work that had gone on to create their lives. So telling for all of us!!! We hear it often today (even my generation and I'm 36) that so many of us take so many things for granted, which we do.
All in all, it was just a fascinating book--and one that was very easy to read. Very enjoyable. :) I look forward to reading everyone's review!!!!
:) Laurenda
Saturday, April 15
The Good Earth
I'm posting now because I'm leaving town for the next three weeks and want the book in front of me so I can check my notes.
First of all, I'm glad to have read The Good Earth. I always looked at it when in bookstores, but I never got around to buying it. However, I'm not sure I can say I liked the book. I found it fascinating, and probably an accurate description of turn-of-the-century China.
I did not like Wang Lung. I found him to be a very weak soul, always concerned about how important he appeared to others. There's a quote on my page 287, as Wang Lung's son is suggesting they buy the house of the Hwangs, "[Wang Lung] was moved by the words of his son when he said "the great house of the Hwangs." Wang (or is it Lung) is now ready for a new home based on how it will appear to others. Even his son knew that Wang Lung "cared mightily what people said of him." This weakness of character allows for a miserable life, I think. You're never happy with what you have or who you are because you're always trying to be who you want people to think you are.
I didn't like the worth (or lack there of) attributed to women in the book, although, it's an accurate depiction of the time and place. Another quote, "It is not meet for a man to love his wife with a foolish and overweening love, as though she were a harlot." OK, don't love your poor wife, but it's OK to love a harlot? And what was with the binding of the feet. What torture (it literally was torture). So, what, smaller feet were preferred by the men so parents would make their daughters' feet the object of desire? Yikes.
I did like the use of color, both in descriptions of the land and as symbols. Red, for luck (the red eggs, red sugar, jewels red as the inner flesh of watermelons); white, the color of mourning (interesting that in our culture, it's black). I found an interesting definition online of the Red Egg baby announcement: "One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child's birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby's name is given."
One last comment - there was a theme throughout the book that is SOOO true to human nature. The gods of the temple of the earth. When things were going poorly for Wang Lung, he wouldn't attend to these gods - no incense, no new clothing. He blamed his misfortune on them. Humans are just like that. I remember talking with people in France when I was on my mission, and we would ask them if they believed in God. Many times the answer was no, due to the fact that there was so much suffering in the world. Gods always gets the blame when lives are going poorly, and rarely get the credit when lives go well. When life is difficult is the most important time to remember and worship God.
This is a very "stream of conciouslness" review, so I hope it makes sense.
Thanks, Karen, for finally allowing me to read this book.
First of all, I'm glad to have read The Good Earth. I always looked at it when in bookstores, but I never got around to buying it. However, I'm not sure I can say I liked the book. I found it fascinating, and probably an accurate description of turn-of-the-century China.
I did not like Wang Lung. I found him to be a very weak soul, always concerned about how important he appeared to others. There's a quote on my page 287, as Wang Lung's son is suggesting they buy the house of the Hwangs, "[Wang Lung] was moved by the words of his son when he said "the great house of the Hwangs." Wang (or is it Lung) is now ready for a new home based on how it will appear to others. Even his son knew that Wang Lung "cared mightily what people said of him." This weakness of character allows for a miserable life, I think. You're never happy with what you have or who you are because you're always trying to be who you want people to think you are.
I didn't like the worth (or lack there of) attributed to women in the book, although, it's an accurate depiction of the time and place. Another quote, "It is not meet for a man to love his wife with a foolish and overweening love, as though she were a harlot." OK, don't love your poor wife, but it's OK to love a harlot? And what was with the binding of the feet. What torture (it literally was torture). So, what, smaller feet were preferred by the men so parents would make their daughters' feet the object of desire? Yikes.
I did like the use of color, both in descriptions of the land and as symbols. Red, for luck (the red eggs, red sugar, jewels red as the inner flesh of watermelons); white, the color of mourning (interesting that in our culture, it's black). I found an interesting definition online of the Red Egg baby announcement: "One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child's birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby's name is given."
One last comment - there was a theme throughout the book that is SOOO true to human nature. The gods of the temple of the earth. When things were going poorly for Wang Lung, he wouldn't attend to these gods - no incense, no new clothing. He blamed his misfortune on them. Humans are just like that. I remember talking with people in France when I was on my mission, and we would ask them if they believed in God. Many times the answer was no, due to the fact that there was so much suffering in the world. Gods always gets the blame when lives are going poorly, and rarely get the credit when lives go well. When life is difficult is the most important time to remember and worship God.
This is a very "stream of conciouslness" review, so I hope it makes sense.
Thanks, Karen, for finally allowing me to read this book.
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