Key Facts
full title · The Good Earth
author · Pearl S. Buck
type of work · Novel
genre · Parable, American literature about China
language · English
time and place written · 1930–1931
date of first publication · 1931
publisher · The John Day Company
narrator · The story is narrated in a coolly detached third-person
voice that often describes Wang Lung's thoughts and feelings and
generally describes only the actions, and not the thoughts, of the
other characters.
point of view · The novel is written almost exclusively from Wang
Lung's point of view.
tone · The narrator's tone is solemn and detached. The story
is told with a great deal of gravity, but the language is kept very
simple and remains placid even when describing events of great trauma and
upheaval. The story's tone has reminded some readers of the Bible;
it is based in part on the tone of much of the Chinese literature
Buck knew well.
tense · Past
settings (time) · Roughly 1890s–1930s
settings (place) · Anhwei, China; Wang Lung's nearby farm; the far-off
southern city of Nanking
protagonist · Wang Lung
major conflict · Wang Lung's desire for wealth and status clashes with
his simple respect for the earth and his adherence to old Chinese
traditions of religious and filial piety. Later, Wang comes into
conflict with his uncle's family and with his children, as they
exploit his wealth and disregard his wishes.
rising action · The various natural disasters of the book—famine,
drought, and flood; Wang Lung's marriage to O-lan and the birth
of his children; his struggle through poverty in Kiangsu
climax · The financial success of Wang Lung
falling action · Wang Lung's increasing interest in women and sensual
pleasures; his old age; the children's decision to sell his land
themes · Man's relationship to the earth; wealth as a destroyer
of traditional values; the place of women in Chinese culture
motifs · The cycle of nature; religion
symbols · Foot-binding; the House of Hwang; O-lan's pearls
foreshadowing · The downfall of the Hwangs foreshadows the downfall
of Wang Lung's family; the raid on Wang Lung's house and the discovery that
his sons have been stealing foreshadow Wang Lung's own theft of
the gold from the rich man's house; Wang Lung's disappointment in
seeing Olan's unbound feet foreshadows his affair with the Lotus,
whose feet are bound.
