The Good Earth Essay

[Harley Scarow]

Peter Dang
5 – 24 – 07
English
Essay

Tired of being manipulated by your own children? Wish you could have the deserved control over your children like when you first wrought them into the world? Well, look no more—you’re not the only one that is trapped in this dilemma! In The Good Earth, a novel written by Pearl S. Buck, the protagonist, Wang Lung, undergoes this situation, being manipulated by his eldest son, Nung En. Because of Nung En’s age amongst his brothers, Nung En was able to word requests from his father through stealthy use of speech—some of which were particularly to improve his own image. All this effort Nung En put was simply to improve other people’s outlook on him.

As a son concerned about his father’s peace, Nung En wanted to assist Wang Lung with his troubles involving the uncle in the family. This plan would be brutal, involving the deaths of this side of the family. His plan was to “let [them] all into the water one night.” Obviously, Nung En did not care about how malicious this act would be. However, Wang Lung resented this plan, claiming “to push my father’s brother into the water I would not,” proving that Wang Lung would never kill his own kin (280).

[Harley Scarow]

Peter Dang
May 25, 2007
Homework
Essay

Tired of being manipulated by your own children? Wish you could have the deserved control over your children like when you first wrought them into the world? Well, look no more—you’re not the only one that’s trapped in this dilemma! In The Good Earth, a novel written by Pearl S. Buck, the protagonist, Wang Lung, undergoes manipulation at the hands of his eldest son, Nung En. Because of Nung En’s education, Nung En was able to word requests from his father through stealthy use of speech—some of which were particularly to improve his own image. All this effort Nung En put into was simply to improve other people’s perception of him.

The first time Nung En managed to control his father’s choices was when Wang Lung was fed up with troubles involving the uncle of the family, whom was living with them. Nung En’s plan is brutal, involving the deaths of his side of the family. His plan was to “let [them] all into the water one night.” Obviously, Nung En did not care about how malicious this act would be. However, Wang Lung denied this request, starting, “to push my father’s brother into the water I will not,” proving that Wang Lung would never kill his own kin (280). However, this did prove that Nung En would be willing to kill his own family members by pushing them into the water.

While Nung En’s plan to kill Wang Lung’s uncle along with the uncle’s family did not come to fruition, Nung En was quick to come up with another plan—this one would not involve their death, but it would involve deluding them from reality. The plan that Nung En devised was to purchase opium for the uncle and his wife so that they would be off in another world while the brain-wasting effects of the opium would take action a short time after it was used. This plan to buy opium, while it required much more money, it was better in Wang Lung’s eyes than the murder plan, making it a great death substitution, and a plan Wang Lung would go along. While Wang Lung may have had disagreements at first, considering the opium would cost too much money, Nung En said slowly, “Well, and it is dearer than jade to have them at us like this.” In addition, Nung En thought not only would the opium be generous to give to the uncle and his wife, but it would be considered a delicacy as well, as stated, “Let us buy them opium to enjoy, and more opium, and let them have their will of it as rich people do,” (281). Basically, Nung En wants to spoil the uncle and his wife because they are sickly and old—they would want opium. This proves that Nung En does not fear expensive methods—even Wang Lung approved this.

The final and biggest time to prove that Nung En did have control of Wang Lung to a limit, and would not fear expensive methods, was when Nung En was perfecting his little brother, Nung En’s, eventual wedding that would soon take place for him. While continuously manipulating his father for money, this included having carpenters and masons repairing the rooms and moon gates. However, this would eventually end when Nung En’s younger brother, Nung Wen, made a list of costs this perfecting cost so far to Wang Lung. This list of costs flashed to Wang Lung the truth, which thought Nung En was simply doing this out of a good gesture to his little brother for his wedding. Soon, Wang Lung knew that Nung En was purely doing this for his own self-image. In addition, Nung En eventually blurted out the reason for this perfecting without realizing after Wang Lung asked the true reason, answering proudly, “Men in the town are beginning to call us the great family Wang. It is fitting that we live somewhat suitably to that name, and if my brother cannot see the meaning of silver for its own sake, I and my wife, we will uphold the honor of the name,” (313). Although there was some slight whitewash it mentioning the condition of the wedding that Nung En technically was trying to improve, most of Nung En’s words in this statement proved he only wanted to make the place be better in appearance, simply so he could live to his stature. This proves that one of Nung En’s goals is to make the setting around him look better so his already high-status would look even higher.

All in all, these ideas that Nung En gave Wang Lung proved that he would go to any limit to get results for the better—from killing close family members to drugging them with opium to simply making himself look richer than his family already is. First of all, these plans also proved that Nung En is not willing to consider lives—even if they are part of his blood to some extent. Secondly, Nung En does not mind lying to people—even if they are his own family members—to make his father, Wang Lung, be at peace—even if temporarily. Finally, Nung En mainly cares about himself, willing to blow big chunks of silver simply to look more affluent than he already is. Just remember another piece of advice—so what Nung En is a self-centered son that only cares about getting things done the quickest way? Hopefully, your kids won’t be as bad.

[Harley Scarow]

Peter Dang
May 25, 2007
Homework
Essay

Tired of being manipulated by your own children? Wish you could have the deserved control over your children like when you first wrought them into the world? Well, look no more—you’re not the only one that’s trapped in this dilemma! In The Good Earth, a novel written by Pearl S. Buck about a poor farmer who eventually strikes it rich, the protagonist, Wang Lung, undergoes manipulation under the hands of his own eldest son, Nung En. Because of Nung En’s education, Nung En was able to word requests from his father through the stealthy use of speech—some of which were particularly to improve his own image. All this effort Nung En put into manipulating his father was simply to improve other people’s perception of him.

The first tim4e Nung En managed to control his father’s choices was when Wang Lung was fed up with troubles involving the uncle of the family, who was living with them. Nung En’s plan is brutal, involving the deaths of the uncle’s side of the family. His plan was to ‘“let them all into the water one night.”’ Obviously, Nung En did not care about how malicious this act would be. However, Wang Lung denied this request, stating, ‘“to push my father’s brother into the water I will not,”’ proving that Wang L:ung would never kill his own kin (280). However, what this did prove is that Nung En would be willing to kill his own family members by pushing them into the water. While this would not be direct, killing the uncle, the uncle’s wife and their son would give Nung En a better name because the uncle was a Redbeard, a member of a dangerous gang. It would have been more pleasurable in the eyes of the town’s citizens to see the uncle gone, and Nung En would have been in a more respectable position with a villain of such gone.

While Nung En’s plan to kill Wang Lung’s uncle along with the uncle’s family did not come to fruition, Nung En was quick to come up with another plan—this one would not involve their deaths, but it would involve deluding them from reality. The plan that Nung En devised was to purchase opium for the uncle and his wife so that they would be off in another world while the brain-wasting effects of the opium took action. This plan to buy opium, while it required emuch more money, it was better in Wang Lung’s eyes than the murder plan, making it a great death substitution, and a plan Wang Lung would go along. While Wang Lung may have had disagreements at first, considering the opium would cost too much money, Nung En said slowly, “’Well, and it is dearer than jade to have them at us like this.’” In addition, Nung En thought not only would the opium be generous to give to the uncle and his wife, but it would be considered a delicacy as well. As he stated, ‘“Let us buy them opium to enjoy, and more opium, and let them have their will of it as rich people do,”’ (281). Basically, Nung En wants to spoil the uncle and his wife because they are sickly and old so they would want opium. This proves that Nung En does not fear expensive methods—even Wang Lung approved of this. The plan would have improved Nung En’s life because giving opium to the uncle and his wife instead of killimh meant Nung En was more towards stealth than a reckless killer.


The final and biggest time that proves that Nung En had control of Wang Lung and would not fear expensive methods, was when Nung En was perfecting his little brother’s (Nung Wen) wedding. During the preparations, Nung En was manipulating his father for money; this included carpenters and masons repairing the rooms and moon gates. However, Nung En’s spending eventually ended when Nung Wen made a list of costs and gave it to Wang Lung. This list of costs flashed Wang Lung the truth; he realized he was simply wrong to think that Nung En was simply doing this out of good will to his little brother for his wedding. Soon, Wang Lung knew that Nung En was purely doing this for his own self-image. In addition, Nung En eventually blurted out the reason for this perfecting without realizing after Wang Lung asked for the true reason, answering proudly, “’Men in the town are beginning to call us the great family Wang. It is fitting that we live somewhat suitably to that name, and if my brother cannot see the meaning of the silver for its own sake, I and my wife, we will uphold the honor of the name’” (313). Although there were some slight lies in mentioning the condition of the wedding that Nung En technically was trying to improve, most of Nung En’s words in this statement proved he only wanted to make the place be better in appearance, simply so the family could live up to his standards. Clearly, one of Nung En’s goals is to make the setting around him look better so his already high-status condition would look even higher to the wedding guests from town.

All in all, these ideas that Nung En gave Wang Lung proved that he would go to any limit to improve his image—from killing close family members to drugging them with opium to simply making himself look richer than his family already is. First of all, these plans proved that Nung En is willing to kill off some of the people that he has known for a time—even if they are part of his blood. Secondly, Nung En does not mind lying to people—even if they are some of his own family members—to make his father, Wang Lung, be at peace—even if temporarily. Finally, Nung En mainly cares about himself, willing to blow big chunks of silver simply to look more affluent than he already is. Just remember one thing concerning a manipulative youngster—even if he or she can take advantage of you, try to control it so the youngster can never get to you as quick as Nung En did to Wang Lung.