Wang Lung In The Good Earth

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In The Good Earth, Wang Lung is a man who lives in China during the early twentieth century. He has very few advantages in the early years of his life, but later becomes more prosperous. Lung, like his neighbors, struggles to provide the basic necessities of life for himself and his family. For some time, this socioeconomic system holds Wang Lung in a position where he is unable to improve the way he lives. However, he is later able to prosper financially as a result of his many years of hard work. His years of labor have an affect on his character, resulting in many of the moral weaknesses with which he is often associated. Although flawed, Wang Lung continues to be the character with whom readers identify and sympathize. Wang Lung is a character …show more content…
During the years in which he lives in poverty, his work ethic and respect for his elders make his circumstances more relatable than they would have been if he were devoid of any character traits. Many humans, all around the world, live in poverty and face the same struggle that Lung does. These individuals or families often have to work hard to stay alive, just as Wang Lung and his family do before they are forced to move to the south. In other times, such as Lung’s years of prosperity, readers are able to connect with his more adverse traits such as anger, cruelty, and greed. In every civilization throughout history, the system of “give and receive,” has consistently maintained its grip on humanity. This underlying philosophy has planted avarice in every human, which causes readers to subconsciously relate to Lung as he loses control of his desires for money and slaves. Wang Lung also displays pride after he becomes wealthy; pride in his sons for being educated, and pride in himself for owning land. Most readers can connect with Lung in the sense that most people have something to be proud of, whether it is something they are capable of, or something they have done. Because Wang Lung possesses these character traits, readers are easily able to understand the emotions that he feels through all
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