Weekend Read 📖 : Good Earth by Pearl S Buck

I’ve been an avid reader since childhood. I devoured everything, even books like Manorama, which weren’t really meant for kids. When magazines like Balarama and Reader’s Digest arrived, my brother and I would fight over them. He wasn’t interested in reading them ; he just wanted to delay giving them to me. Those childhood fights were an essential part of growing up.

Lately, I’ve been trying to reconnect with that girl who used to sit in a corner of my grandfather’s house, minimizing distractions to get the most out of her books. I’m now attempting to read at least one book a week. This weekend, I chose “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck. I’ve had this book for a while, but my focus on self-help and management books since starting my startup had kept me away from fiction. Now, I’m slowly diving back into fiction to escape the monotony.

“The Good Earth” transported me to early 20th century rural China, before the Japanese invasion. The storytelling was mesmerizing, immersing me in Chinese customs, food, and daily life. The central theme of the book is the degeneration of individuals as they become more distanced from the land, illustrated through the life of Wang Lung. I can feel this as now i am also far away from my land and Palakkad where my heart is.

The novel vividly portrays Wang Lung’s journey from a poor farmer to a wealthy landowner and his subsequent downfall. It delves into themes of land, wealth, and human nature through Wang Lung’s relationships, especially with his wife, O-Lan, and his concubine, Lotus.

I found the beginning captivating. Buck’s writing style is distinct and immersive, drawing readers into the lives and struggles of Wang Lung and O-Lan. Their early partnership seemed to be based on an unspoken yet profound connection, which I interpreted as love rooted in mutual respect and shared hardships.

However, the introduction of Lotus marked a significant turning point. Wang Lung’s character, initially sympathetic, revealed his flaws through his actions and attitudes towards O-Lan and their children. His obsession with land and wealth led to moral and familial decay.

I was disappointed by Wang Lung’s lack of tenderness and appreciation for O-Lan, who was the dutiful wife. Her unwavering loyalty and hard work, despite her husband’s neglect and disdain, got my sympathy. Wang Lung’s transformation into a disconnected, violent, and greedy man left me feeling frustrated.

The novel serves as a broader commentary on the corrupting influence of wealth and the loss of connection to the land. Wang Lung’s success leads to his family’s moral and emotional decline, mirroring the fate of the House of Hwang. This cyclical pattern underscores the futility of materialism without meaningful human connections.

Set just before the Japanese invasion of China and World War II, the novel adds a layer of historical inevitability to the characters’ fates. Some readers might find this context diminishes the novel’s impact, as the sudden change overshadows the other aspects of this book.

“The Good Earth” evokes mixed reactions.While I devoured the historical context and portrayal of life’s hardships, but also found the moralistic tone tiresome. The shift from a slice-of-life narrative to a moral lesson about the dangers of wealth and disconnect from the land isn’t so great at the end.

Overall “The Good Earth” remains a poignant and thought-provoking novel. Its depiction of rural Chinese life, complex human relationships, and the corrupting influence of wealth offers valuable insights. The enduring impact of the novel lies in its ability to provoke reflection on universal themes of love, duty, and the pursuit of wealth. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, even dreaming about it last night.

Pearl S. Buck’s writing is truly remarkable. Her life story is equally fascinating, but that’s a tale for another day.