The Good Earth Analysis

The Good Earth takes place in China during the early 20th century. A man is working rigorously, tending to his crops, a task he used to do alone. Now, a woman is with him, working just as diligently as himself. The pair toils on as the day goes by, and as afternoon approaches, the woman stops working in the field and returns to the house. Once the man finishes for the day, he enters his earthen house to find his dinner has been made for him and his father. He tastes the delicious food, grown from his own land, and is pleased. Without the land upon which they endlessly work, this family would not have the nourishing food they eat nor the warm house they occupy. Likewise, without this woman, O-lan, in their lives, they would not have all the
The land went through many hardships, but was still able to provide for the family after the misfortunes had passed. For example, the land went through a long drought, but was able to come back and be farmed, after a while of waiting. Also, the land got hit by a flood, and could not be farmed for a long period of time, but was still able to produce them food afterwards. The earth they reside on provides food rapidly and abundantly for the family. Similarly, O-lan is able to work in the land just as much as Wang Lung. Along with helping toil on the land, she still takes care of his father, prepares food for the entire family, and takes care of their children. And, even though O-lan does not have bound feet, which displeases Wang Lung, she is able to do so much to help the land and Wang Lung than she would if she had her feet bound. In addition to doing so much, O-lan works on the land just days before and after having children, and all throughout her pregnancy. She also cooks even after a long day of work, and gets things done quickly and efficiently. The land is a foundation for their house, just like O-lan is the foundation for their family. Without these two things, the family would fall