The Good Earth’s Relationship Between Wang Lung and O-Lan

The relationship between O-lan and Wang Lung is stabilized by O-lans hard work and resourcefulness, based spaciously upon a cleaning ladys inferiority, and threatened by superficial tendencies. Their affiliation also ends ro publictic totallyy with the sacking of love and is regretted, in the end, with sufficient sympathy. O-lan proves to be beneficial th approximative pith of outdoor labor. In the afternoon she took a hoe and a hoop and these upon her shoulder she went to the main road leading into the city where mules and donkeys and horses carried burdens to and fro, and there she picked the goop from the animals and carried it home and piled the manure in the dooryard for fertilizer for the fields (Buck 29). O-lan also proves her kindliness by performing household chores, to much of Wang Lungs appreciation. And she took their ragged frock and with thread herself spun on a bamboo spindle from a wad of cotton wool she mended and contrived to cover the rents in their winter cl othes (Buck 29).Although this is true, Wang Lungs gratitude towards O-lan appears subjugate as he constantly hides his feelings for her in the beginning. The protagonist immediately becomes mortify by his affection for O-lan. And then he was ashamed of his own oddity and of his interest in her (Buck 30). Wang Lung subsequently attempts to dissuade these purposes. O-lans aid and value obviously weakens the tension between both(prenominal) spouses and creates a to a greater extent mutual, steadfast life at home. Arguments are rarely heard amongst the lips of either save or wife.This may be due to O-lans unusual quietness. solely she never talked, this woman, except for the brief necessities of life (Buck 30). This silence almost abruptly terminates all heated conversations. However, it also enhances her appearance as a buckle down and overall working image. But in the day her clothes, her plain muddy cotton coat and trousers, covered all that he knew, and she was like a fai thful, speechless serving maid, who is only a serving maid and vigor more (Buck 30). Women, in ancient cultures are, as shown in The Good Earth, thought to be of lesser value than that of men. She was, after all, only a woman (Buck 30). On numerous occasions, O-lan is treated as if she is a piece of piazza obtained by her new husband. It seemed that during these next months he did nonhing except expect this woman of his (Buck 28). Wang Lung acts this way due to the environment in which he grew from, where both elders and men reign, leaving women at the bottom of the totem pole. Wang Lungs uncle once questioned, view as you not heard it said that in the Sacred Edicts it is commanded that a man is never to correct an elder, (Buck 66).As the novel progresses, Wang Lungs thoughts of his wifes outside begin to surface as superficial tendencies emerge. He complains of her horrid tomentum cerebri and rough features. He saw for the first time that her hair was rough and brown and unoi led and that her face was large and flat coarse-skinned, and her features too large altogether and without any sort of beauty or light (Buck 179-180). These brute(a) comments are the first slap in the face of O-lan, as Wang Lungs manly instincts begin to kick in and he discovers beauty abroad. white lotus enters the layer when Wang Lung gives into the temptation of lust. He buys her, despite the fact that he is a conjoin man. Threatening the relationship between O-lan and Wang Lung, white lotus slowly tears the couple on apart even more than they were before. Earlier in the novel, during the raid of an blue bloods home, O-lan finds many valuable gems within the walls. Once money becomes a necessity, Wang Lung asks for the gems in order to grant them to the House of Hwang in return for extra land.O-lan is allowed to keep only two of her choosing and she quickly decides on two pearls And he was moved by something he did not understand and he pulled the jewels from his tit and unwrapped them and pawed them to her in silence, and she searched among the glittering colors, her hard brown hand turning over the stones delicately and lingeringly until she found the two insipid white pearls, and these she took, and tying up the others a fetch, she gave them back to him. (Buck 157-158) These white spheres represent more than just the upcoming twins. They also symbolize Wang Lungs love for O-lan, no matter how limited it may be.Once Wang Lung becomes completely entangled inside Lotuss web of desire, he demands that O-lan give him the pearls at once so he could, in turn, award them to his concubine. This simple act may be construed as Wang Lungs thievery of his affection for O-lan and Lotuss gain in the matter. As O-lan begins to die, she utters a phrase that entirely reveals all of her inward thoughts. Well I know I am ugly and cannot be loved, (Buck 277). These ideas show her lack in confidence that may reserve been even more destroyed with Wang Lungs brutal behavior and rocky words.Wang Lung, however, felt guilt beyond measure and wondered and grieved at himself most of all because what she said was true, and even when he took her hand, desiring truly that she feel his tenderness towards her, he was ashamed because he could feel no tenderness, no melting of the punk such as Lotus could win from him with a pout of her lips (Buck 277). This not only serves as evidence of Wang Lungs sympathy towards O-lan and his regret for everything that he induced. It also reiterates the fact that Wang Lung and O-lans relationship changed instantaneously as his feelings for Lotus blossomed.