The Good Earth - Characters

Characters

• Wang Lung—a poor, hard-working farmer born and raised in a small village of Anhwei. He is the protagonist of the story and suffers hardships. He follows morals and Chinese traditions such as filial piety and duty to family. Believes the land is the source of happiness and wealth. He later becomes a very successful man and possesses a large plot of land which he buys from the House of Hwang. As his lifestyle changes he stops caring about his own life and he buys a mistress. In Hanyu Pinyin, Wang's name would be written "Wang Long." Wang is likely to be the common surname "Wang" represented by the character 王.

• O-Lan—first wife, used to be a slave in the house of Hwang. A woman of few words, she is simple minded but nonetheless is valuable to Wang Lung for the skills she acquired previously. She is considered plain or ugly;her feet are not bound. She is hardworking and self-sacrificing.

• Wang Lung's father—desires grandchildren to comfort him in his old age, becomes exceedingly needy and childish as the novel progresses.

• The Poor Fool—first daughter and third child of O-lan and Wang Lung, whose mental handicap was caused by severe starvation during her infancy. As the years go by, Wang Lung grows very fond of her.She mostly sits in the sun and twists a piece of cloth.

• Second Baby Girl—Killed immediately after delivery by O-Lan because the whole family was starving and there was no way to feed her. It is implied that a hungry dog eats her dead body.

• Nung En (Eldest Son)— as a little boy very respectful. and goes to school. is an irresponsible son and marries the daughter of the local grain merchant.

• Nung Wen (Middle Son)—is a responsible son of Wang Lung but is against his father's traditional ethics.

• Eldest Son's Wife—Daughter of a grain merchant and a city woman who hates the middle son's wife. She is brought to the house before O-Lan's death and is deemed proper and fit by the dying woman. Her first child is a boy.

• Middle Son's Wife—A jolly rural woman. Hates the first son's wife. Her first child is a girl.

• Youngest Son—Wang Lung originally intended for this son to be in charge of the farm whilst his other two sons were educated, but he became arrogant and ran away to become a soldier.

• Youngest Daughter—Twin sister of the youngest son, betrothed to a merchant's son earlier due to harassment from her cousin.

• Wang Lung's Uncle—a sly, lazy man who is highly ranked in a band of thieves known as the Redbeards and a burden to Wang Lung; becomes addicted to opium.Very fat, relies heavily on the tradition of younger generations who care for older generations.

• Uncle's Wife—becomes a friend of Lotus; also becomes addicted to opium.Very fat, greedy and lazy.

• Uncle's Son—Wild and lazy, leads Nung En into trouble and leaves to become a soldier. Disrespectful and visits many concubines.

• Ching—Wang Lung's faithful friend and neighbor. Dies and is buried near the entrance to the family graveyard. Wang Lung plans to be buried nearest to him.

• Lotus Flower —Much-spoiled concubine and former prostitute. Eventually becomes fat. Helps arrange the eldest son's and youngest daughter's wedding. In the beginning older than she appears and complains a lot.

• Cuckoo—Formerly a slave in the house of Hwang. Becomes madame of the "tea house", eventually becomes servant to Lotus. Hated by O-Lan because she was cruel to her in the Hwang House.Where there is money she is there.

• Pear Blossom—Bought as a young girl, she serves as a slave. At the end of the novel she becomes Wang Lung's concubine because she says she prefers the quiet devotion of old men to the fiery passions of young men.