Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth

Good Earth Essay There’s a reason why the phrase “life is a rollercoaster” has been around for so long. The Good Earth, a novel by Pearl S. Buck, tells the story of a poor Chinese farmer known as Wang Lung. Wang Lung goes through many ups-and-downs in his life, and the book illustrates how with dedicated work and a little luck, a man’s life can change for the better. The Good Earth makes the story of a farmer in China relatable to everyone in the world and tackles issues and challenges that people still face today. The Good Earth depicts how it is part of human nature to aim for a successful and good life. Before Wang Lung gets sidetracked by wealth, all he wants to do in life is tend his land and provide enough for his family. “Only a few of the beans did Wang Lung hide in his own hand…then putting his lips to the lips of his daughter he pushed into her mouth the food…he felt himself fed.” (pg. 85) The goal of many people around the world, especially parents, is to live a life where their children or loved ones don’t have to suffer. Others set goals for themselves to achieve in the future, like having their dream job. Becoming content with life is a hard to attain, and it’s seen through Wang Lung’s story how easy contentment is to lose. Challenges will always be present in life, and The Good Earth
portrays that extremely well. Wang Lung faces many bumpy roads in his journey to wealth, one of which was a drought. “But even money would do little good now, for there was no food to buy.” (pg.88) This quote shows how severe a situation can get (and does for Wang Lung). Later on in the novel, Wang Lung and O-lan have to consider selling their daughter just so they can survive. Even though most people won’t ever have to go through exactly that, there are many tough decisions that have to be made in the course of a lifetime. Some people do have to experience making the choice to have electricity or water in their homes, or to pay the bills versus putting a meal on the table. Everybody has experienced tribulations, and it’s recognized as a part of maturity and just life in general. The Good Earth also illustrates how life goes on.
As established by Wang Lung’s rags-to-riches journey, an unfortunate situation or condition is never permanent. There is a cycle of life that is slightly implied throughout the chapters of the book. When it seems that that world has ended when something terrible occurs, it really hasn’t. For Wang Lung, the combined losses of his wife, Olan, father, and friend, Ching, were especially devastating. But, his spirits are lifted with the marriage of his sons and the birth of his first grandson. As cliché as it sounds, the promise of a better tomorrow is what motivates individuals across the globe to get through
today. It’s surprising to see how much life differs when experienced through the eyes of another person. The Good Earth really just comes to show how humans aren’t as different as they think they are. The novel demonstrates qualities and characteristics of life that are ageless and can be proven true years from today. The need for a prosperous life and the mishaps and problems that occur along the way are only a few of the events and emotions that people share in common. Pearl S. Buck created a tale of a Chinese farmer that connected thousands of people across the earth, and will continue to do so for many decades to come.