"The Good Earth" Ap human Geography Project.

Essay by crazysoccerplyr606 November 2005

download word file, 6 pages 5.0

I. Description.

The book I am reading is called "The Good Earth". It is written by the wonderful author Pearl S. Buck. The book is three hundred and fifty seven pages long.

The book is about Wang Lung who is a young and poor farmer who is living in China during the time signs of modernization are appearing but the Chinese culture is remaining deeply connected to ancient traditions and customs. When Wang Lung approaches age to be married his father. He approaches the local Hwang family to ask if they have a spare slave who could marry his son. The Hwangs agree to sell Wang a 20-year-old slave named O-lan. Wang and O-lan marry. They are pleased but they barley speak. Wang is disappointed that O-lan does not have bound feet.

Together, Wang Lung and O-lan grow a profitable harvest from their land. O-lan becomes pregnant, and there first child is a son.

Meanwhile, the powerful Hwang family is falling apart. Wang Lung is able to purchase a piece of the Hwang family's rice land. He enjoys another profitable harvest. O-lan gives birth to there second son. Wang Lung's new wealth catches the attention of his uncle. Custom says that Wang Lung must show the utmost respect to the elderly especially relatives. So obligated he loans his uncle money despite knowing that the money will be wasted on drinking and gambling. The Hwang family's finances continue to fall apart, and the Hwangs sell another piece of land to Wang Lung.

O-lan then gives birth to a daughter. Then a terrible famine settles on the land. O-lan gives birth to another daughter during crisis so she strangles the second girl because there is not enough food to feed the baby and the rest of the family.