About the Setting & Theme - The Good Earth Online

Settings

Time period is approximately 1890-1930.
The place is China.

In beginning and end of the novel, the main setting consists of Anhwei, a small town that contains both Wang Lung’s farm and the House of Hwang, which eventually becomes Wang Lung’s.

The area consists mostly of agricultural land but it does contain a small town with a moderately sized populated and not much to do.

Wang Lung’s Farm:
This property grows over time. In its largest state, there are approximately 3 buildings with a worker’s house, Wang Lung’s home (which contains a beautiful inner court), and a small side shack for animals and agricultural products.

The House of Hwang/House of Wang Lung:
This estate is practically a mansion with many courts and a high wall guarding all sides. The landscape is lush during occupancy by either major family and the building itself is maintained except for that time in which nether the Hwang family or Wang family occupy the estate.

In the middle of the novel, the characters move to the city of Nanking. This city possesses the typical hustle and bustle of a pre-revolutionary/revolutionary Chinese city. The streets are noisy during the day and storefronts run up and down roads.

Themes

Mans Relationship with Earth
This is the most important theme of The Good Earth. It associates morality, good sense, respect, and hard work in relation to nature. Because Wang Lung is a farmer, he is close to the Earth all the time. The reason that the wealthy are in decline is because of their disconnection with the land. When one is not close to the Earth or land, that person can become corrupt. In the novel, human success is temporary. The Earth goes on forever.

Wealth as a Destroyer of Traditional Values
As Wang Lung obtains wealth, he becomes more like the Hwang family. The more money a family has the further away from the land they move. In this way, they are more likely to become corrupt. Wang Lung’s children, for interest, have no respect for the land. Because of this, they lack those traditional values that brought them to their position.

Impression of Women in Chinese Culture
Women in China were oppressed, limited, abused, and put into slavery among other things. At birth, girls were regularly killed. Daughters were sold as slaves. Men would many times have concubines or multiple female mistresses. When a woman was more useful in a man’s life, a man would place less romantic or sexual value on that woman.




	About the Setting & Theme




		Settings Time period is approximately 1890-1930. The place is China. In beginning and end of the novel, the main setting consists of Anhwei, a small town that contains both Wang Lung’s farm and the House of Hwang, which eventually becomes Wang Lung’s. The area consists mostly of agricultural land but it does contain a small town with a moderately sized populated and not much to do. Wang Lung’s Farm: This property grows over time. In its largest state, there are approximately 3 buildings with a worker’s house, Wang Lung’s home (which contains a beautiful inner court), and a small side shack for animals and agricultural products. The House of Hwang/House of Wang Lung: This estate is practically a mansion with many courts and a high wall guarding all sides. The landscape is lush during occupancy by either major family and the building itself is maintained except for that time in which nether the Hwang family or Wang family occupy the estate. In the middle of the novel, the characters move to the city of Nanking. This city possesses the typical hustle and bustle of a pre-revolutionary/revolutionary Chinese city. The streets are noisy during the day and storefronts run up and down roads. Themes Mans Relationship with Earth This is the most important theme of The Good Earth. It associates morality, good sense, respect, and hard work in relation to nature. Because Wang Lung is a farmer, he is close to the Earth all the time. The reason that the wealthy are in decline is because of their disconnection with the land. When one is not close to the Earth or land, that person can become corrupt. In the novel, human success is temporary. The Earth goes on forever. Wealth as a Destroyer of Traditional Values As Wang Lung obtains wealth, he becomes more like the Hwang family. The more money a family has the further away from the land they move. In this way, they are more likely to become corrupt. Wang Lung’s children, for interest, have no respect for the land. Because of this, they lack those traditional values that brought them to their position. Impression of Women in Chinese Culture Women in China were oppressed, limited, abused, and put into slavery among other things. At birth, girls were regularly killed. Daughters were sold as slaves. Men would many times have concubines or multiple female mistresses. When a woman was more useful in a man’s life, a man would place less romantic or sexual value on that woman.

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