《大地》的生態(tài)女性主義解讀

《大地》的生態(tài)女性主義解讀摘要在世界文學(xué)史上，賽珍珠是20世紀中美文壇上頗有爭議的女性作家。她藉

著系列小說《大地三部曲》一舉成名，并獲得了諾貝爾文學(xué)獎以及是美國第一個

獲此獎的女性作家。由于賽珍珠在中國生活成長的特殊經(jīng)歷以及其作品中表現(xiàn)出

的特色，使她本人及作品成為中美學(xué)者研究矚目的焦點。在中國，學(xué)者們從不同

視角對她進行解讀，構(gòu)成了我國“賽珍珠研究”的獨特風(fēng)景線。本文嘗試以生態(tài)女

性主義為視角，來探討小說《大地》中的女性。本文將以賽珍珠最具代表性的小說《大地》為藍本，深入分析作者如何從生

態(tài)女性主義意識角度解析阿蘭這一女性形象，并借助對賽珍珠《大地》中的實例,

從三個方面探討她的生態(tài)女性主義思想:首先通過對小說中女性化了的自然和自

然化了的女性的分析，表現(xiàn)了自然和女性之間的象征關(guān)系。在《大地》中自然和

女性以及男性之間的關(guān)系與生態(tài)女性主義的基本思想相吻合。重新解讀了作品中

的女人與自然、男人與女人和男人與自然的關(guān)系。重新審視與其女主人公阿蘭密

切相關(guān)的每一個故事情節(jié)，挖掘扎根于女性經(jīng)歷中的故事，傾聽被湮沒了的阿蘭

的聲音，深刻分析賽珍珠塑造的女性形象。關(guān)鍵詞:賽珍珠；《大地》；女性意識；阿蘭EcologicalFeminisminTheGoodEarthABSTRACTInthehistoryofworldliterature,PearlS.Buckiscontroversialfemalewritersof

the20thcenturySino-USCulturalForum.ShewontheNobelPrizeforLiterature

throughherseriesofnovels"TheGoodEarth”，andwasthefirstAmericantoreceive

thisawardforwomenwriters.PearlBuckbecomethefocusofattentionofChinese

andAmericanscholarsbecauseofherspecialexperiencelifeinChinaandherworks

featureinherownwork.InChina,scholarsfromdifferentviewsonherliterature

becometheuniquelandscape.Thispaperattemptstodiscussthewomenin"The

GoodEarth"ineco-feministperspectiveThisarticlewillbebasedonPearlS.Buck'snovel"TheGoodEarth"aschief

source,andfromtheperspectiveofecologicalfeminismtoanalysisofthisfemale

image,andwiththeexamplesin"TheGoodEarth"todiscussedhereco-feminist

thought.First,throughanalysisofthefemininenatureandnaturalizeswomento

performancethesymbolicrelationshipbetweenthenaturalandfeminine.Andthe

relationshipbetweennaturalandeco-feministwomenandmenbetweenthematch

in"TheGoodEarth"."TheGoodEarth"reinterprettherelationshipbetweenwoman

andnature,manandwoman,manandnature,re-examineeverycloselyrelatedto

storyabouttheheroineandanalysisoftheexperienceofwomeninthestory,listento

theoblivionofvoice.AnalysisofthefemaleimageofBuckshaped.Keywords：PearlS.Buck;TheGoodEarth;female;O-lanCONTENTSTOC\o"1-5"\h\z摘要 I\o"CurrentDocument"Abstract II\o"CurrentDocument"Contents IV\o"CurrentDocument"Introduction 1\o"CurrentDocument"IntroductiontoThework,thewriterandtheory 2\o"CurrentDocument"PearlS.Buck 2TheGoodEarth 4\o"CurrentDocument"TheEco-feministtheory 6\o"CurrentDocument"TheRelationshipbetweenMaleandtheLandinTheGoodEarth 7\o"CurrentDocument"Male'sDestruction oftheLand 7\o"CurrentDocument"2.2Male'sSeparationfromtheLand 9\o"CurrentDocument"TheRelationshipbetweenMaleandFemaleinTheGoodEarth 9\o"CurrentDocument"TheDominationofMaleoverFemaleinPatriarchalSociety 9\o"CurrentDocument"FemaleinMasculineSystem 11\o"CurrentDocument"TheSymbolicLinksbetweenFemalesandtheNatureinTheGoodEarth 13\o"CurrentDocument"O-lan'ssymboliccontactwithnature 13\o"CurrentDocument"O-lan'sexperiencecontactwithnature 14\o"CurrentDocument"O-lan'sstatusofcontactwithnature 16\o"CurrentDocument"Conclusion 18BibliographyAcknowledgmentIntroductionNowadays,humanbeingsliveinaglobalcontextinwhichtheexchangeof

informationandculturesbetweendifferentcountriesinevitablyhavebecomemore

andmorenecessary,therefore,theproblemofhowtodealproperlywithsuchan

exchangehasurgedpeopleindissimilarculturesintoallwaysaround.PearlS.Buck,

asawell…knownAmericanwriterinthehistoryofworldliterature,isthegreat

motiveforceinthedevelopmentofculturalexchangebetweenEastandWest.Thanks

tohercross…culturalexperiencesandthebilingualeducationshereceived,PearlS.Buckhadindulgedherinthefightagainsttheculturalabsolutismandthecultural

hegemonies,andspentherlifetimepursuingtheharmonybetweendifferentcultures.

Whatshethoughtandadvocatedinherwayofwritingisquitevaluabletoassistwith

therealizationofculturalharmonyamongtheworld.EspeciallytoChinaandits

people,sheheldaspecialpositioninboththeirlivesandliteratures.Asweknow,

PearlS.BuckgrewupinChinathatlatersheregardedasfartherland,althoughshe

wasnativelyborninAmerica.Duetothemissionaryworkofherparents,shegot

morechancetogetintouchwiththeChinese,chieflythosewholivedinthe

countryside.Meanwhile,shewastutoredbyaChineseteacher,Mr.Kung,lecturingon

theknowledgeofChinesecultureandleadinghertothecomprehensionofChinese

classicbooks.Ontheotherhand,Mrs.Buckreceivedherinitiateeducationfromher

mother,accordingtothecoursesofferedinAmericanschool.Therefore,she

benefitedalotfromsuchabiculturaleducationthatisjustaprerequisitetoherlater

writingswithcross一culturalhint.Sincethespecialeducationtaughtherthateach

culturepossessesitsownwonderandpeoplesowningdifferentculturesareequalali

overtheworld,PearlS.Buckcouldcomposeherworksinmindofgentlenessand

equality.EastWind"WestWindasherfirsteffortinfull-lengthnovel,forinstance,has

rightlyexploredherthoughtaboutChineseandWesterncultures,inwhichthe

collapse,conflictandpossiblefusionofthetwocultureshavebeenclearlydiscussed.Introductiontothework,thewriterandtheoryPearlS.BuckPearlS.Buckisaswellactiveinsocialactivities.DuringherlifeinChina,Pearl

S.Buckwasfondofcommunicatingwiththecountrymen,especiallythose

countrywomenwherevershevisited,obtainingtheinformationaboutthosepeople

andtheirlivesasmuchaspossible.Gradually,Mrs.Buckwasawareofthenecessity

tomakethethoughtsandlivesofthoseChinesepeopleunderstoodbyherAmerican

compatriots,andthenshewrotefrequentlyforamagazinenamedAsiaandoften

organizedAsiansinAmericatomakelecturesontheirculturesandhistory,onlyfor

thepurposeofculturalexchange.TodaywecouldsaythatitisallonaccountofMrs.

BuckthatprimarilychangedtheimageoftheChineseintheknowledgeofWestern

peopleand,inherwholelife,contributedtoeliminatingtheculturalprejudiceslying

inforalongtimebetweentheEastandtheWest.Asaresult,Mr.Buckandherworks

arerichresourcesforourfurtherstudiesinvariousaspectsandoccupyaspecial

position,particularlyinChineseliterature.Hilde,anAmericancelebritynews.Inhismasterpiece,hesaid,hadin-depth

interviewwiththeU.S.government,newsandbusinesstopeople,byPearlS.Buck

todescribeChinesecharacters.EspeciallythemagicisthatdespitetheKoreanWar,

theVietnamWarandthe"CulturalRevolution0,theAmericanpeopletotheChinese

peoplegoodimpressionactuallyneverchanged.Thishastobeattributedtothe

outstandingcontributionoftheleadingwomentoChina.Buckbegantotrywriting

novel"TheGoodEarth"in1922,printedimmediatelybecomebestsellers,dueto

PearlBuck"epicofChinesepeasantlifeepicdescription,describetheisvividand

richmaterialsof,andherbiographymasterpiece",1938wontheNobelPrizefor

literature.Inherlife,shewrotemorethan100literaryworks,amongwhichthemost

famousis"TheGoodEarthHerworksincludenovels,shortstories,playsand

children'sstories.Herworkandlifearecloselyrelated.Sheistryingtoprovetoher

readersthat,aslongastheyarewillingtoaccept,thereisawiderangeofcommon

humanbeings.Thethemeofherworks,thefemaleemotionalconservation

(generalized),Asia,immigration,adoptionandlifeexperience.PearlBuck'sliterarycreationwasdividedintodifferentstages.TheNobelprize

gaveherglory,butatthesametimeshesaidshewasaalmostexclusivelyChinese

writerswhowrite.Inthelaterliterarycareer,shehadtriedtogetridofthenarrow

writing.Herfirstnovel,"eastwindandwestwind"(1930),infact,consistsoftwo

shortstoriesthatwererelatedtoeachother,whichlaidthefoundationforherwriting.

From1930to1938shewasawardedtheNobelprize,whichisrelatedtotheChinese

tradition,someofwhicharerelatedtotheinfluenceofWesternThoughtonChinese

culture.Trilogy―"theearth"(1931),"Sons"(1932),"separation"(1935)―published

inonevolumeofthe"earthhouse"(1935),thebookarousepeoplepayattentiontothe

universalhumancondition,naturalcirculationprocessandhumanriseandfall.

"Mother"(1934)introducedafearofhardship,thecouragetobecometheprototype

ofwomen.Seemstoemphasizethepossibilitythatcombined,inthesametonebuck

alsopublishedsomeworksofprose.Shewroteabiographyofhermotherandfather

"exile"(1936)and"thestruggleofAngels:aportraitofthesoul"(1936).Itisdifficult

tosurviveinthelifeofthetwoimportantcultures,whicharethesameasthetwo

books.Thebookmentionedaboveforherreputation.Uniqueandslightlyexotic

charactersundoubtedlymaketheworkswidelypopularwithreaders,thisfeaturealso

makestheworkitselfhasthepower.Thesebooks,bothnovelsandbiographies,are

committedtotheconceptofthenovelshebelievesin.Theyincludetheactivitiesofa

nation,aperson,orafamily,whichsheconsiderstobeveryimportant.Thesebooks

donotcontaintheauthor'ssenseofparticipation,andonlyletthefactsspeak.In1934,

BuckneverleftChinese,markingherreturntotheUnitedStatesbegantoexpandthe

scopeofwriting.ShedidnotabandontheFarEast,however,inadditiontothesubject

matter,shenotonlyintheEastandwestoftheworld'scombinationofthetitle,but

alsostrictlyintheUnitedStatesasthesubjectofwriting.Notlikemostworksby

popularandsuccessful,buttheseworksandshewontheNobelPrizeandfailtobethe

attentionofcritics,evenmildcriticalsupportsarenot.TheGoodEarthLookingbackuponthedevelopmentofthefeministliterarycriticism,theauthorwill

reviewPearlS.Buck'snovel,TheGoodEarth,andseemorefeministhintsinit.

Maybethefeministhintsinthenovelaretooobscuretotelltheessentialreasonof

womenprobleminsociety;however,theyexistandtentativelywillrevealthe

submissiveroleofwomeninthesocietydominatedbymen,whichiscoherenttothe

focusofthefeministliterarycriticisminembryo.Inthenovel,Mrs.Buckportrays

severalfemalecharacters,amongwhichO-lanisoneofthemostcomplicated

characterswithplentifuldescriptions.WiththedescriptionofO-lan'swholelife,Mrs.

BuckunfoldstheinnerthoughtofthosecountrywomeninChina,aswellasthe

submissionforcedbymenonwomen.Then,asfollowed,thefocusofthediscussion

hascometothequestions:HowwillO-lanresistthemale-orientedsocietyinher

time?WhatistherelationshipbetweenPearlS.BuckandhercharacterO-lan?Does

O-lancarrythefeministmindofPearlS.Buck?Beforeallthesequestionscould

becomecleartous,theauthorwouldliketointroducethegistofthenovelfirst.Mrs.Buckbeganherwritingsin1920s,inChina.Itisgenerallyacknowledged

thatTheGoodEarthisbyfarthebestandthemostmemorablenovelamongher

works.In1931,TheGoodEarthwasfinishedandpublished,whichmadeher

considerablyfamousamonghercontemporaries.Inthefollowingyear,this

remarkablenovelwonthePulitzerPrize.Thoughmorethanseventyyearshave

passed,itretainsitspopularityandbecomesoneofthegreatmodernclassics.TheheroofthenovelWangLungpreliminarilyisapoorfarmerlivingwithhis

oldfather.Whenhereachesmarriageableage,heisengagedbyhisoldfathertoa

femaleservantfromthefamilyoflocallandlordHuang.Theslave,ashiswife,is

namedO-lanwhoisindustriousandcompetent,although"shehasnotbeautyenough"

Thecoupleworkhardontheirlimitedlandsandgraduallyearnsomemoneywith

whichtheyplantobuymorelands.Duringthehardtimeoftheirworkinglife,O-lan

hasshownherunforgettablecapabilityofbearinghardshipsandstandsbesideWang

Lung,herhusband,hardworkingandneverstoppingevenbeforetherightmoment

shewillgivebirthtotheirfirstchild,"Herfacewaswetandstreakedwiththeearth.

Shewasasbrownastheverysoilitself."Laterduetothespendingdescendantsofthe

landlordHuang,thegreathousehasbeenonthedecline,asaresult,therichlandsare

soldoneafteranotherinordertomakethepeopleinthehouseliveon;andmeanwhile,

thefarmerWangLungcatchesthegoldenchancetobuythemall.However,asWang

Lungisimmersinginhisgreatplanofimprovinghislifewiththoserichlandshehas

beenlongingforalongtime,therecomesthefamineyear.Withoutfood,thevillagers

areputupbyanidleguy,WangLung'suncle,toplunderingeverythingvaluableof

WangLung'shouse.Forsurvival,O-lanhascheaplysoldofffurnitureandgoestothe

southseekingawayoutwithherfamily.Inthesoutherncity,theyliveinabutmade

ofsixmatsbesidetheroad.O-lanwiththeoldmanandthechildrengoesouttobeg,

whileWangLungdragsahiredjinrikishaafterhimouttothestreeteveryday.For

thosedayinthecity,WangLunghasnevergivenuphismindofreturningtohis

hometownwhenrainfallsonhislands.Onceinariotofthepaupers,WangLunghas

bysurprisegainedalargeaccountofmoneywithwhichhegoeswithhisfamilyback

tohishometownandbeginsanewlife,buyinganoxandmorelands.However,his

wifeO-laniswithabadhealthbecauseofthehardworkinglifeandthestrainand

malnutritioninthetimeofgivingbirthtoherchildren,whichmadeherprematurely

weaklikeanoldbiddyinherhusband'seyes,ThenWangLungdoeswhatisalways

donebylandlordsmarryingaprostituteashisconcubine,leavingO-lanasideina

cornerwithoutshowinganyinteresttoandlettingherbementallyandphysically

exhaustedandthengraduallydie.O-lanhasendedherlifewithgrievancesandhatred,

whilethefamilyisbecomingwealthy.Thestoryended,butitsinfluenceinliteraryfieldhasbeenlastingfordecades.

ThefirsthandexperiencesinChinaenabledPearlBuckinmostofherworksto

presentChinaastheChineseseeit,butinlanguage(ofbothlipandmind)which

WesternerscanunderstandservingasabridgebetweentheWestandtheEast.Whatis

describedinthenovelhasalsogreatlypromotedtheexchangebetweenChineseand

Westernculture.TheEco-feministtheoryItisimportanttonotethateco-feministisfairlynewandstillfindingitsvoice.As

such,thereisnosingledefinitionofeco-feminism.Onthecontinuumofthepolitical

tothespiritual,theacademictothegrassroots,someeco-feministsarestrictly

front-lineactivistsandotherscreatesocialchangethroughadedicatedspiritual

practice.Somearefulluncompromisinglyradicalandothersoperatewithinmore

conventionalframework.Askaroomofeco-feministjustwhateco-feminismis

anyway,andyou'relikelytogetmanydifferentinterpretations.Inlightofthese

varietiesofdefinitionsandschools,itisimpossibletoformacompletetheoretical

framework.Eco-feminismisthecombinationofwesternenvironmentalmovementand

feminism,whosemajorthoughtistherecognitionofwomenandnature,callingforan

endtoanyformofoppression.Thatkindofrecognitionofgenderoppression

ideologyalsorecognizesthenatureofoppression.Eco-feminismtheoryoriginated

fromthetheoryoffeminismandeco-criticism,whichexplainstheaffinitybetween

natureandhuman.ArielSallehpracticallydefineseco-feminismas"arecent

developmentinfeministthoughtwhicharguesthatthecurrentglobalenvironmental

crisisisapredictableoutcomeofpatriarchalculture"(Salleh,1988:130).Inessence,thereisnoready-madedefinitionofeco-feminism,whichisusually

regardedasafeministapproachandenvironmentethics.Theterm"eco-feminism”

wasfirstcoined,asCarolynMerchantnotes,byaFrenchwriter,Francoised'

Eaubonnein1974LeFeminismouLaMort.Inthisrepresentativework,rancoise

d'Eaubonneseekstocalluponthepublicattentiontowomen'spotentialfortheradical

ecologicalmovement.Suchanecologicalrevolutionwouldincludenewgender

relationsbetweenwomenandmenandbetweenhumanandnature.Sincethe

introductionofeco-feminism,ithasbeenusednavarietyofaspects."Shearguesthat

thetwooppressionsofwomenandnaturearecloselyconnectedandwomennot

liberatedwithouttheliberationofnature"(Session,1987:115).Eco-feminismhighlightstheinterconnectionbetweentheoppressionofmenand

dominationofnature,over-exploitationandcontaminationofthenaturalresources.

Accordingtothenewpointsofviewofeco-feminism,theauthorreassessestheold

classicalwork.Inotherwords,eco-feminismisjustasocialandpoliticalmovement

whichembodiestherelevancebetweenthedominationofwomenanddeterioration

theirenvironment.TheRelationshipbetweenMaleandtheLandMale*sDestructionoftheLandtheseriousimbalancebetweentheonenaturalecologicalcircleofthesun

mercilesslyexposure,theskyisnotatraceofclouds,Thereisnorainondry,parched

land,seedlinggrowthstopped,finallydiedofyellow,noparticles.Thesummerand

autumnharvest;then,flood,plagueensued.Thelandisbarren,showingadeclineof

style.Onedrypond:thewaterintheponddriedintomudcake;floodsunderthe

embankmentandadobehousesinjeopardy,locust.Someofthecropsaftertheworms

becamewild.Afterthedisaster,humanitybegantotiltthebalance:weekday'skindof"Qin"

alsojoinedthelonglineofrobbery.O-lanhaddrowned,newbornbabygirl Inordertomakealiving,butalsotokeepthesurvivingvirtue,WangLungmovedsouth,

begantostrayawayfromtheland.Beforehisdeparture,WangLungsaidtohimself

againandagain:"AtleastIhaveoneofthelands.Ileftmyland."(Trilogy:71)barren

landneartheeyes,Althoughthetemporarylossofpracticalvalue,alsorosesweet

wind,comfort,toitsowner,StrayfromthelandinthecityatthecorneroftheWang

Lungfamily,embarrassedandsad."Helivesinthis.Feelwealthyinthecitylikea

richfamilyonthemisfits,eatleftoversofthemouse,andhidehere,InTibet,itwillneverbeapartofreallife."(Trilogy:85)soon,WangLung'sson

learnedtosteal.Beattheirkidsafterameal,WangLungpromisedtoreturntotheir

ownland.Atthispoint,WangLungmissthelandisfaraway,inthevisualextension

oftheend,intothehopellytoweartheimagination.However,theharmonybetweenpeopleandthelandhasnotmaintainedalong

timeanddeadlock,sevenyearslater,whenthedisasteragainHit,atthistimethe

WangLungfamilyplentywithoutpreviousconcerns.Hejusttooktheopportunityto

leavetheLand,freefromthelandofbondage:marryaprostitutelotusforhiswife,

thefarmerWangLungeverydaytotakeabath,Forfearofbeingcalledacountry

hick.Oneday,WangLunghadtotakeJaneO-lanutterlydevoidofconscience.Atthis

point,thestoryofthelandduetothealienationofhumannatureandcomplicated.However,fromanotherpointofview,"thischangedandunchangedthelandof

lovedoesnotmeanthathesplitpersonality,Preciselyconfirmstheunityofhispersonality”，Chinaisthousandsofyearsby

theformationofgroupconsciousness—O-landislifebloodKoichiChionfarmers.As

anovelist,PearlS.Buck'sattentiontothechangedandunchangedchecksand

balancesandsystemuntilthefloodwatersreceded,WangLungcontinued,andland

sparsecloserelationshipgraduallyoldto.WheninCity,hisrelationshipwiththeland

disputesandinvolvedanewfactor:hebegantousethelandforspeculation,Cherishisthirdtimesthenaturaldeviationlastslonger,onlytoexperience

growingWangLungNature,theultimatereturntoland.Therefore,inthe"origin"

and"reverse"oftherelaxationofthevariable,theprotagonistconstantlyTractionby

land:thelandisnotonlythematerialsupport,supportandethicsoneoneallalong,

Peopleandland"lifeanddeathknot"firmlybuckle,and"physicalandchemical"of

the"land"isoftentheriseinlove.Inthelifecourseoftheearth,themagicbecomesakindofflexible"life

philosophy".Attachedtoherpeople,willbethemagicintoagentle"mother";inorder

tolurepeopletoselfexpansion,"land"spinandplayActingas"temptation";and

whenpeoplelostandhelpless,"land"tobe"accepted*';andtheoriginalconceitThe

human,thenEnronandthe"land"fromtheopponenttoplay.Whenpeopletakeitfor

grantedthattheycanwiththeoutputoftheland,infact,istheubiquitouslandwithan

apologyandbalance,dominatethepeople'ssorrow.Male'sSeparationfromtheLandInTheGoodEarth,WangLungfallsinlovewiththelanddeeplyandregardsthe

landasthepartsofhislife.However,WangLungabandonedthelandforthreetimes.

Forfirsttime,araredroughtsweptthroughthewholevillageandthelandbecome

dryingandwithoutvillagepeoplebecomepoor,theycannothaveameal.Facedwith

suchasituation,therehavenothingtomeettheirneed.Theywanttokillthecowthat

meetstheirneed.ForWangLung,hecannotbeartokillthecow.Itisimportantto

himforthecow.Inthecrisismoment,WangLung'sunclerobshisfamily.Facingthe

crazypeople.WangLungfeelspainfulandsad.Afterwaitingcrazypeopleleave,

WangLunggetscomfortwiththeland.Later,WangLung'sunclepurchaseshisland

atthelowprice.WangLungrejectshisrequesttoselltheland.WangLungsaid,the

landisapartoftheirlife.Itmakestheirlivingandmeettheirneed.Onthisoccasion,

theygiveupallthingsexcepttheland.InWangLung'smind,thelandplaysan

importantroleinhislife.Inthesouth,theyareforcedtobecomebeggars,WangLungpullsarickshaw.The

southernlifeistoughandhard.Afterthewholeday'swork,heonlyearnedalittle

money.Althoughtheworkisbetterthanworkintheland,WangLungearnedalittle.

Uptonow,hisonlyhopeisthelandtoovercomedifficulties.Afterseveraltimesof

hunger,WangLung'sfamilystartstoliveinthestrangecity.Theyliveinasmall

place,WangLungstillpullingtherickshawtomakemoneyforhisfamily.Duringthe

labor,healwayscomparesthiscitywithhishometown,suchasthecrops,theair,the

waterandsoon.Inthestrangecity,hefacethesestrangepeople,healwaysmisshis

hometownandwanttocomebackhisland.Springiscoming;thespringarouseshis

desiretogohome.Forthem,itseemsthattheyhaveneverlefttheland.Hereturned

totheland.Thesecondtimes,astimegoeson,WangLunghashadlotsoflandsand

money.Buthismindhasnitputintotheland.Forthethirdtimes,asagegoeson,

WangLunglivesinabighouseandgetsawaytheland.TheRelationshipbetweenMaleandFemale3.1TheDominationofMaleoverFemaleinPatriarchalSocietyInoldChina,asacouple,thehusbandshouldhaveonewife.Theyarerequired

thattheyshouldrespecteachother,andtheyareequalinthemarriage.Thewifemust

beobeyingonyourhusband.Itisverycommonthatthehusbandcommandshiswife

andhasthesupremepowertobloodhiswifeintheirmarriage.InTheGoodEarth,

WangLungthinkthatO-lanisatoolforhardworkinthefieldsandbornhissons.Inasense,O-lanplaysanimportantroleinthefamilydoinglotsofhousework.

ShecoulddomorehouseworkthanWangLungathome.WhenO-lanasaservant,her

lifewashardandrestricted,sowhenshegetsmarriedwithWangLung,herwishisto

havefreedom.Butintheother9sidea,O-lanstillasaservantinWangLung9family,

O-lan'smarriageisfailure.ThereisnothingbenefitforO-lan.AfterWangLungbecomearichman,heabandonedhiswifewhohelphimmake

fortuneandbomhischildrenforhisfamily.Duringthebigfamine,shegivesupher

newly-borndaughtertoovercomethedifficultiesforthefamily.O-lanhelpWang

Lungbecomearichmanandgetmorelandsforthefamily.WangLungdoesn'ttake

careofher.Beingrichprovideshimwithgoodtimes.Hestartstodisgusthiswife.He

oftenfeelslonelyandhelpless.Everythingseemslikedisagreeabletohim,hestartto

growtiredofhiswifefromherappearanceandbehaviors.Inpatriarchalsociety,WangLungasaheadofthefamily,hehasthesupreme

powertocontrolhislandandfamily.InTheGoodEarth,O-lantriesherbestto

supportherfamilyindifficultiestimes,suchasbeggingforthefamilyandrobbing

otherhouseandsoon.Sheisbusywithherfamilytodohouseworkandhardworkin

thefields.WangLungspendslotsoftimeforawoman.ForO-lan,shecannotblame

him.Althoughshemadeagreatcontributionforthefamily,sheishumbleinthe

family.InTheGoodEarth,O-lancannotgetmoney,shehavenorighttocontrolmoney.

Withouthiswifepermission,WangLungtakesbackthepearls.InWangLung'smind,

ItisuselesstogetpealsforO-lan.SoWangLungmakeuphismindtoaskthepearls

whenO-landoingthehousework.Attheendofthenovel,whenO-lanisdying,shestillthinksherappearanceis

thebiggestquestiontoduetohishusbandabandonher.ItisthefirsttimethatWang

Lungfeelssorrytohiswife.Heisveryregretforthepast.ButWangLunghasnever

fallinlovewithherfromstarttofinish.AlthoughO-lanspendalotoftimeforthe

familyandbomsonsforhim,Shecouldn'twinhishusbandheart.Asthesametime,herlastwordsrevealhismiserablemarriage.Shesaid,though

sheisugly,shebomsonsforhim.Sheisadutifulwifeforhishusband.Itisworth

thatshegetstherespectfromhishusbandandfamily.FemaleinMasculineSystemIntheConfucianmarriage,itisarguedthatwomenareinferiortomen.Therefore,

men,asalegalguide,oppressedwomen.Notwithstanding,InTheGoodEarth,O-lan

isdepictedinTheGoodEarthaswomanwhoismuchablerandbraverthanher

husbandovertheupsanddownsoftheirlifeateverycriticalmoments.Itturnsout

thatshebecomestheguideofthefamilyinthefamily.Anyway,thesocietyis

male-dominatedAlthoughO-lanisalittleslowinbrain,sheissmarttoperceivethedeclineofthe

HouseofHwangandfishfortheinformationthatHwang'sfamilyisabouttosellthe

land.Atthecriticalmoment,O-lanboldlyexpressesheropinionsaboutthepurchase

ofthelandinsteadofb