The Good Earth Response: Wang's Uncle and the City

In the novel, The Good Earth, a strong character is described. Wang Lung's uncle isn't a main character, but he definitely leaves an impression. At times he is a jerk; he tells the village that Wang has money, but isn't buying food, and isn't giving him any. In one chapter, Wang and his uncle are in a fight. They yell back and forth, and even some tears are shed. The next minute, the uncle is saying what a good man Wang is, and how he, the uncle, is a man of evil. It seems as if he has two totally different sides to him, and neither side is the true him; he is lost in his life of lies, and can't find the way out.

When Wang Lung's family goes poor, they make the tough decision to head to a city in the south-- a rich, beautiful city where everyone is doing well. As they arrive a man gives the family a few directions-- build a hut out of mats, and beg, beg as if you are depending on those people. The sad fact is, they are depending on these people. To me, it seems like Wang is ashamed that his family-- his wife, kids, and father-- are out on the streets begging people more fortunate than themselves. While his family is begging , Wang is pulling people in rickshas-- a hard, horrible job. Wang is unhappy, and realizing that he is very poor; reality has just set in, and he doesn't like reality a bit.

Beach

Whoosh...whoosh. The towering waves, of blue, salty water, crash agianst the beige boulders-- the only thing keeping me away from the water. As I'm wishing, hoping, and wanting to walk along the flour white sand, leaving my mark, my footprint, proof that I had been there, I see a flock of seagulls. The free flying birds can feel the fresh mist of the crashing waves, but I, behind the barrier of boulders, cannot.

The Good Earth: Chapter 1

In the first chapter of The Good Earth, the author explains how some people are okay with humiliation and poverty. Wang Lung lives in a poor world. His father only thinks about wasting crucial supplies such as water and tea. On the day of his wedding, Wang Lung takes a bath, washing himself all at once; his father is ashamed at his son's idea and argues. The son says that the water will not go to waste, but will end up on the fields. If one cannot take a bath without getting criticized for it, it proves that there is the idea of poverty. When Wang Lung pours his father tea, it is cold, so he gets more water. "Why are you wasteful? Tea is like eating silver." (p.4) Although the family are farmers, and are poor, they still get by; he bargains with barbers, and gets enough food for the wedding celebration. Wang Lung does not live in total poverty, but is pretty close.

When Wang Lung goes to the Hwang house, he experiences humiliation, and right of the bat is out of his comfort zone-- he doesn't know what to say, if anyone else should be there with him, or what to bring. At this house, women are handed out like candy; if a poor man needs a wife, he gets a former slave, and if a rich man needs a wife, he gets a pretty wife. It would be scary to be handed out like that, to go home to a poor man, who you are expected to give sons. As O-lan is introduced to Wang Lung, the master at the house says-- with no care in the world that the woman is right next to her-- that she isn't pretty-- he doesn't need a pretty wife, all she will want is clothes and shoes which he cannot afford-- she isn't smart, and isn't clever. Once the new, awkward couple gets home, Wang Lung asks his new wife if she knows how to do the daily chores such as cook and clean, and she responds yes. The new married couple are just learning about each other for the first time. O-lan seems to be intimidated by all men; she later told Wang Lung that she will not hand out the food because she doesn't want to be seen in front of the men. The ways of life and beliefs in early China are very different from what we live in today. Now, weddings are one of the biggest celebrations, and in this story a wedding is just another normal day.

A Jury of Her Peers Response

Throughout the course of the short story, "A Jury of Her Peers," women were treated unfairly. When Minnie Foster was young, she was beautiful, could sing, and loved life, now she is trapped in an unfair marriage. It seemed as though the only thing keeping her alive and happy was her beautiful canary. Like keeping Minnie alive, canaries also kept coal miners alive. A while ago canaries were used in coal mines; if the bird died , the miners knew that there were poisonous gases in the air. It seemed as though Mr. Foster was so unhappy with his wife-- a person you should respect, love, and treat fairly-- and her happiness that he strangled the canary, the only thing keeping Minnie happy. He left his wife, Minnie, lonely and wanting company. Since her husband killed her main source of happiness and freedom, she strangled him-- she wanted him to feel how she now did.

When Mr. Hale came to speak to Mr. Foster-- he did not know that he had been killed-- he asked Minnie where he was and she said dead. She answered all of his questions which should be and would be to a normal person, tough and horrible, nonchalantly. It seemed as though she didn't care that he was gone. "'He died of a rope around his neck,' says she; and just went back to pleatin' at her apron." (p. 22) She simply stated the cause of death, acting completely normal. Later when the Hale and Peter families went to investigate the Foster's house, the men left the women to search for their own evidence, as if they didn't think that they were worthy enough of finding important clues. Women's rights and company were important to Minne, and this was her way of getting it.