Taken for Granted: O-lan's Paradoxical Importance in The Good Earth Zealous Lee 9th Grade

“The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.” - Charlie Chaplin

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck is a novel based upon a family that endure many difficult hardships together. Specifically, the main character’s wife, O-lan, born into slavery, has worked as a slave until she marries Wang Lung, the main character. From the beginning she is described as not beautiful, but she is smart and hardworking. Wang Lung constantly takes her for granted, although without her, he would not be well off as he was at the end of the book.

O-lan is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. She is a very quiet character and from the beginning of the novel, very plain. Although Wang Lung appreciates her hard work and intelligence, O-lan is not beautiful in any physical appearance, which disappoints Wang Lung. Near the beginning of the book, it is explained that Wang Lung is at the age to get married, and so he is waiting for his father to choose a wife for him. But he is disappointed when he hears his father make his requirements for the girl: “Not a slave too young, and above all, not a pretty one” In response, “Wang Lung [suffers] that she must not be pretty” (8). Despite Wang Lung’s disappointment in the girl...