In Pearl Buck’s, The Good Earth, more dynamic characters come into play throughout the book. O-lan takes the role of an obedient yet strong-minded housewife who was a former slave and is now controlled by her husband, Wang Lung. In this position she doesn’t have much of a choice in her actions or decisions and remains loyal to Wang Lung. Her passive behavior causes a lack of emotion and dialogue in the book. Due to this absence of context, she remains a flat character.
Although little is known about O-lan’s thoughts, throughout the book small glimpses of her past are shown which give an overall greater meaning, and importance, to her character. O-lan has shown herself as someone with a low self esteem, who views herself as unlovable and worthless. Hence, she feels, as what she has to think isn’t important. Instead of bringing attention to herself, Olan will be carrying out actions in the background to prevent upsetting her husband. This causes O-lan to be overlooked and taken for granted.
Yet, when put in a position where she knows she needs to go against her husband she will do it. Therefore, when O-lan and her family were starving their last option was to kill and eat Wang Lung’s ox. Wang Lung could not bring himself to killing his ox because of his emotional attachment to it, so, Olan took it upon herself to kill the ox. “Then O-lan crept out and she took a great iron knife she had in the kitchen and cut a great gash in the beast’s neck, and thus she severed its life. (Buck 72)
O-lan took a very manly role when doing this and didn’t even have to mention it. She knew that the only way to survive was to eat the ox so she did what had to be done. If she were to think she were too pretty to do this dirty work she wouldn’t be able to provide for the family like the way she does. This combining the importance of her personality and upbringing, which left an impact on, how we see her thoughts. Wang Lung and the family had a lack of resources, so when it came to begging for food and money it did not work which eventually transitioned to stealing.
Even though this was something her husband was opposed to and it meant going against him, she knew it was the only way to survive. So, she was fine with her son stealing a large piece of pork. When Wang found out how they got it, he threw it on the floor refusing to eat it. Yet, O-lan picked it up and prepared it to eat saying, “meat is meat. ” (Buck 111) Those three words show how dialogue was given to her during certain parts to show she is very practical. It doesn’t take a lot for her to get her point across and she doesn’t put up with nonsense.
She knows what the family needs and through her actions she is able to portray this because there’s no thought process. Instead she has an impulse to make the right choice. Without O-lan’s insight, Wang would have nothing. Through her actions and dialogue, it was able to display how she was keeping the family grounded. Her rash yet beneficial decisions allowed her to be the rock of the family and keep them together. When the family was in need of money and they were in the south they as well as many other families raided the homes of the rich.
Wang Lung was able to get enough gold for them to move back to the land. Then, Wang Lung felt a lump inbetween O-lan’s breasts. It turned out to rag that was tied and when he opened it and saw of pile of jewels. O-lan explained how she saw “… a brick loosened in the wall and | slipped there carelessly so no other soul could see and demand a share. ” (Buck 145) Nothing was mentioned of O-lan even debating on going to the rich man’s house. Her discrete actions show how she’s always putting family first.
Plus her not telling Wang right away shows how she doesn’t feel the need to brag nor spend it again showing how she keeps the family in check. O-lan plays a very submissive character, whose silence defines her. Yet, she is able to still have a lot of influence and impact on the story. O-lan’s persona is soft spoken who’s quietude benefits her. This lack of expression allows her words to be more notable when she does speak compared to others. Although she is someone who little is known about, without the way her personality is portrayed in the book, it would of left the book with less significance.
