The following excerpt from the novel, while not characterized as a tangible symbol, provides significant insight on the theme of corruption and desire. "Wang Lung, looking at him as he shivered and wept, suddenly loathed him as he had loathed nothing in his life and he cried out with the loathing surging up in him. 'Out of my sight, lest I kill you for a fat worm!' This Wang Lung cred, although he was a man so soft hearted that he could not kill an ox. And the man ran past him like a cur and was gone." The context of this occurrence was of a thieving in which the main protagonist, Wang Lung, obtains a considerable quantity of gold. One may note the description of Wang Lung in the passage "so soft hearted that he could not kill an ox." It …show more content…
is stated prior to the events described above, Wang Lung determines that his family must return to the land after receiving knowledge that his son had stolen in the city in which they had sought refuge from starvation; this reiterates Wang Lung's desire to return to his land, of which he associates with honesty and innocence. His detest for such actions is apparent as his son receives physical punishment for the crime. Despite such, Wang Lung resorts to the same proceedings as his desire consumes him, stripping him of the morals he possessed and clung to even as his family starved. It denotes that, perhaps, our primitive and defining characteristic serves as our sole motivation as well as our hamartia. It seems that it is within the composition of humans to desire, to lack satisfaction with the events that mark the progression of human life and thus, seek to obtain more. Therefore, it is evident that this fixation and obsession influences one's thoughts and actions in a manner one may describe as corruption. The Good Earth, a classic novel depicting pre-revolutionary China, broaches upon the controversial issue of foot binding as well.
A custom common at the time, it ensured the prevention of growth in the feet of young girls. The coveted result was one of pain and disability, however, was considered one of beauty, prestige, and social standing. Those with bound feet, or "lotus feet," were admired for their dainty feet and the beauty that was acquired through painful bindings around the feet. This is a portrayal of the status of women in society as well as the males' population's perception of women. A representation of the aristocratic hierarchy present in China, the prevalence of those with small feet were often among the wealthy and they possessed a higher position in society as a result of their husband. Due to the nature of the bindings, women would develop a careful and cautious walk composed of tiny steps. The nature of their walk asserted that women were seen as mere items of pleasure to men, as their walk did not enable them to work. This limited mobility may reflect the limitations women suffered in politics and society as they were perceived as less adept and competent as their male counterparts. As items of pleasure and service, the role of women in society may be illustrated in the tradition of foot
binding. The House of Hwang, a significant and vital setting in the story, contributes to the characterization of Wang Lung, a representation of the drastic change present in the character. Upon his first visit to the royal house, Wang Lung was unsure of how to proceed, anxious as he was to be in the presence of the Old Mistress and Old Lord, a family of wealth and power. He leaves the tea house prior to going to the House of Hwang as he sights his neighbor. This demonstrates his lack of experience with others and fear of what society may perceive. As the novel progresses and his prosperity increases, he becomes more comfortable with himself, even familiarizing himself with members of the house as he returns to purchase land from the falling House of Hwang. Therefore, his confidence increase with the increase of his wealth and social status as he attributes his practices to his wealth and that they are acceptable as he holds authority and power. The fallen House of Hwang may also be a portrayal of the cyclical nature of life as well. One may note the similarities present between the House of Hwang and the great family of Wang. The following descriptions demonstrate how the gradual success of Wang Lung arises to become the most powerful family in the region, possessing authority and power, as well as the wealth attributed with such. "Then Wang Lung promised easily, and when he promised easily, and when he promised he was struck with a thought and it was this. Here he was he promising a woman to a poor man, and once he had been a poorman come into these very courts for his woman." This scene is one of familiarity as readers may recall that at the beginning of the novel, Wang Lung was a peasant, timid and shy in the presence of such royalty who presented a slave to him to marry. And now, it is he who standing in the halls in which he had been so anxious to stand in before. The practice of smoking opium and taking concubines is also one of the wealthy, as depicted by the Old Lord and Old Mistress. This was due to the high cost of opium and the lack of work they had to attend to as the wealthy had no need to farm and thus, possessed more time for activities that had no practical use and were for mere pleasure. These two practices are demonstrated by Wang Lung's family as their wealth ensures they live a life of pleasure, his uncle and aunt whittling away their lives with their pipe and he taking concubines to curb his lust and desire. Wang Lung notes, prior to his prosperity, that the fall of the great house of Hwang may be attributed to the loss of the land as the family gradually loses their interest for such petty matters, a conflict presented in the story as wealth is thought to lead to corruption and the loss of tradition and morals, i.e., the devotion to their land. The story is resolved with Wang Lung on his deathbed and the implication that his sons will sell the land, contributing to inevitable fall of the great family of Wang. Thus, once more, things have become a full circle; as a family falls, another will rise, to once again, fall.
The great inventor Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” In The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Wang Lung does the opposite. At the beginning of the novel, when he is still a young man, Wang Lung is an individual who is very moral and has a strong sense of his values, most of which are traditional family values that have been passed on for generations. He worships the gods of the fields, has a good sense of filial piety, and knows his place in society - a lowly, uneducated farmer. However, when he becomes a man of great wealth and power, he lets other’s influence his values.
In her article "The body as attire," Dorothy Ko (1997) reviewed the history about foot binding in seventeenth-century China, and expressed a creative viewpoint. Foot binding began in Song Dynasty, and was just popular in upper social society. With the gradually popularization of foot binding, in the end of Song Dynasty, it became generally popular. In Qing Dynasty, foot binding was endowed deeper meaning that was termed into a tool to against Manchu rule. The author, Dorothy Ko, studied from another aspect which was women themselves to understand and explained her shifting meaning of foot binding. Dorothy Ko contends that “Chinese Elite males in the seventeenth century regarded foot binding in three ways: as an expression of Chinese wen civility,
The Death of Woman Wang, by Jonathan Spence is an educational historical novel of northeastern China during the seventeenth century. The author's focus was to enlighten a reader on the Chinese people, culture, and traditions. Spence's use of the provoking stories of the Chinese county T'an-ch'eng, in the province of Shantung, brings the reader directly into the course of Chinese history. The use of the sources available to Spence, such as the Local History of T'an-ch'eng, the scholar-official Huang Liu-hung's handbook and stories of the writer P'u Sung-Ling convey the reader directly into the lives of poor farmers, their workers and wives. The intriguing structure of The Death of Woman Wang consists on observing these people working on the land, their family structure, and their local conflicts.
Many scholars believe his accounts of the city are exaggerated and Marco Polo even states himself “that it is not easy to even put it in writing.” (317). Furthermore his accounts of the women in China seem to be exaggerated as well as missing some information of the society: “These women are extremely accomplished in the arts of allurement, and readily adapt their conversation to all sorts of persons, insomuch that strangers who have once tasted their attractions seems to get bewitched, and are so taken with their blandishments and their fascinating ways that they never seem to get these out of their heads.” (317). While women in China experienced fewer restraints, there were still many patriarchal rules put in place that made women subordinate to men. The act of foot-binding was one such rule which placed an emphasis on “small size, frailty, and deference and served to keep women restricted to the ‘inner quarters’ (331). For reasons unknown, Marco Polo leaves this excruciating detail out of his tales completely, leaving some scholars to question whether he really did make it to
Traditions in Chinese culture are long-rooted and are taken very seriously from generation to generation. However, there must always be room for modern change in order for society to grow and strive across the globe. In Bound Feet and Western Dress the conflict between Chinese traditions and modern change arises. With this conflict it is important to discuss the different meanings of liberation for men and women and they way in which Chang Yu-I was able to obtain liberation throughout her life.
Many times, changes in wealth and family can alter one's attitude completely. In The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, the main character, Wang Lung displays a perfect example of this change. Between his first visit to the House of Hwang (when he went to receive O-lan) and his second visit at New Year's (when he brings O-lan and the child to visit), Wang Lung changes from a modest, apprehensive farmer into a proud, rich man. Wang Lung's family, his family's increased wealth, and the House of Hwang's diminishing wealth are all responsible for the changes in Wang Lung's attitude between his first and second visits to the House of Hwang.
Existing as a girl is not necessarily undemanding in general, but can you even begin to envision being a girl in China? At one time, girls were hobbling around with their feet squeezed into tight, painful shoes, generally in agony from the bruises and deep bloody cuts. In fact, foot binding was not the only downgrading act for women. Lensey Namioka gives an inside visual at what it is like to be a girl in China, with her novel Ties That Bind, Ties That Break. This novel follows the life of Ailin, a young girl in China, who struggles with following basic traditions and beliefs. Living life as a girl was not easy for Ailin and she faced an abundance of difficulties, which included, whether she will bind her feet, attend a public school, and what
Unknown to many Western Christians, Mr. Wang Mingdao (1901-1991) is one of the most influential and respected Chinese Christian leaders of the 20th century. He was a pastor of an independent church in Beijing founded on the “Three-self principle”. He was the conscience of the Chinese church boldly confronting false teachings and evils at his time. He was a prisoner for Jesus Christ spending two decades in prison suffering for his faith.
In the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the symbolism of the pearl is of utmost importance. The meaning the pearl embodies is especially significant in relation to the underlying parody: the wretchedness that emanates from the acquisition of wealth. According to the narrator, “it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more” (25). Ultimately, through the use of figurative language, the narrator reveals the inherent malignancy of avarice. Although, the pearl initially symbolizes good luck and godly intervention, its symbolism transforms to represent the malevolent essence of wealth.
One example Steinbeck uses in this novel that demonstrates this theme of greed that lives within all of humanity is when Kino visits with the pearl buyers to sell his "Pearl of the World." The pearl buyers are not competitive; they have a monopoly on the pearl market in this region of Mexico. Therefore, they offer Kino low prices for his "large and clumsy" pearl. Although Kino is a poor and un-educated Indian, he still has the ability to think logically. Realizing he has not been offered a fair price for his pearl, Kino states, "I am cheated. My pearl is not for sale here. I will go, perhaps even to the capital" (52). Kino’s reactions and words show the greed that the pearl buyers demonstrate by offering Kino such a low price for his valuable pearl. Although the pearl buyers know what Kino's pearl is truly worth, they feel the need to cheat him by giving him less pesos than his pearl actually deserves. In doing so, they provide themselves with a larger profit and thereby illustrating the theme...
Life is full of both blessings and catastrophes. In the 1930s, The New York Times said that Pearl S. Buck’s novel, The Good Earth, was a “comment upon the meaning and tragedy of life as it is lived in any age in any quarter of the globe”. The Good Earth, which is about a poor Chinese farmer named Wang Lung, his family, and their journey from being in poverty to being one of the wealthiest families in the city, truly illustrates the meaning of life and what makes it so special. Throughout the story, the Wang family receives an equal amount of good luck as bad luck, and have an abundance of prosperity and a fair share of misfortune. Just like any other family in the world, the Wang household goes through ups and downs all the time and overcomes
Wang Lung is a poor man, but cares about how others perceive him. For example, he wants a pretty wife so others will praise him, spends precious money to improve his appearance before meeting his wife who is a slave at the great House of Hwang, and is pleased that a beggar called him teacher. While his wife is only a slave, he tries hard to make a good impression by buying meats and inviting guests to his home for dinner. He also seems behind the times as he keeps his braid despite the barber saying it's the new fashion to take it off.
In this poem Anne Sexton highlight the idea of the step sisters altering their body to be good enough for the prince. In her poem she writes: “He went to their house and the two sisters, /were delighted because they had lovely feet” (79-80). Anne Sextons uses this term lovely feet to describe that the sisters were very fond of their feet and didn’t previously have a problem with their feet until seen to not be good enough for the prince. Sexton states in the poem: “but her big toe got in the way so she
The pearl in The Pearl by John Steinbeck shows traits of the characters in their worst moments, but the pearl mostly showed the trait “greed” in Kino because of how his life was before he almost got wealthy. The greed and coveting overtook his mind and personality and changed him who he was as a person. The author showed this throughout the book in many different ways. Steinbeck uses the symbol of the pearl to show the power of greed through Kino’s constant list of desires, his hunger for money, and his constant violence.
“One must suffer in order to be beautiful,” is an idea that has been imposed on women throughout history, resulting in their decision to undergo extremely painful procedures that, at that time lead to them fulfilling their societies ideal form of beauty. Foot binding is one of the many ancient forms of beauty practices that involved an infliction of an excruciating amount of pain upon individuals. Foot binding was practiced in the Chinese culture for around one thousand years. It is a term that refers to an artificial route in stunting the normal growth in women’s feet also, rendering them into an unnatural shape. The effects of this inhumane practice were not worth the beauty