Chapter Summaries and Analysis: Chapters 1-10

Chapter 1

Summary: In chapter 1, we are introduced to the main protagonist of the story, Wang Lung, a poor farmer in rural China. The story starts off with Wang Lung braiding his hair and getting ready in the morning because it is his Mariage Day. Even though he has not found a partner just yet, he still gets ready and looks forward to finding someone. Wang Lung's father then goes to the Hwang Family to ask if they have any slaves Wang Lung can marry. His father says, "'not a slave too young, and above all, not a pretty one" (Buck 11). He advises this because he is afraid that a pretty slave would have lost her innocence to the slave masters and also that a pretty slave would probably not be used to working hard around the house and out on the farms. Even though Wang Lung understands his father, he still wants a woman that decent and not ugly. Wang Lung then goes to the House of Hwang but is interrupted by the rude guards making fun of him. The guards went through the stuff he brought for the bride and took his silver, and let him pass. After that, he goes on to meet the Old Mistress, bowing to her, and then his bride O-lan. She was "somewhat slow and stupid," but she was a hard worker and a good slave (Buck 19). O-Lan was also dark-skinned and not that beautiful, so The Old Woman reassured that O-Lan was probably a virgin. One thing The Old Women requested from them before the couple left was to bring their first child back to meet her. Wang Lung and O-lan then left the Hwang Family House, and on the way back home, he went to the small temple Want Lung's grandfather built to light incense, and the new couple stood before their gods. When they got home, O-lan prepared the meals for their ceremony, and they planned to have guests. His father was not amused by the expense of having guests for their wedding but was still content. As O-lan prepared the food Wang Lung slowly grew a sense of pride for her because of her hard-working skills and loyalty. He liked how "this woman was his and did not fear to appear before him, but would not before other men" (Buck 23). 

Analysis: The first chapter of this book provides insight into the two different families in rural China. The Hwang Family and Wang Lung's family. It shows the significant difference between the rich and the poor. Their lifestyles are completely different, and their opinions contradict each other. The poor, like Wang Lung, need a hard-working and not beautiful wife according to the standards at the time, while the rich chase fair-skinned women who don't work as hard. The rich also have no connection and commitment to the farming they do, unlike the poor because they have slaves doing all of the hard work. The poor worship and live with their land, so they learn how to respect and nourish the land. In short, the poor are happy with what they get, and the rich yearn for expensive things for entertainment and pleasure. 

Chapter 2

Summary: In Chapter 2, we are shown Wang Lung waking up in the morning after his wedding with O-Lan by his side. For Wang Lung, it felt like "an astonishment" to finally have someone for himself. He was still surprised that a hardworking woman like O-Lan was his wife. As O-Lan makes tea for him in the morning, he thinks about how fortunate he is to finally have a wife and also notices how nice and organized she keeps the house and helps out the family. Wang Lung still works hard on the field while O-Lan is at home but feels content there is food ready when he gets home. After O-Lan settles in and gets used to the house chores, she goes out to help Wang Lung with the farm. They are both incredibly hard workers, but they still have not talked to each other much yet. Wang Lung thinks O-Lan is slightly scared of him, judging by the fear in her eyes occasionally. Toward the end of the chapter, O-Lan said to Wang Lung, "'I am with child," and Wang Lung was filled with joy because he was going to be a father (Buck 29). 

Analysis: This chapter signifies the importance of support and nurture in a relationship. A relationship has to be two-sided and not one. Both O-Lan and Wang Lung have to both put effort into the relationship and support each other to grow into better people and better farmers. Another thing is the symbolism of birth and new life, which can represent good luck in the future, like a good harvest or a happy family.

Chapter 3

Summary: Chapter 3 starts off with O-Lan about to give birth to their child. Wang Lung asked if he should get any women from the town to help with her birth, but she refused. O-Lan did not want anyone to see the childbirth, especially the Hwang Family, "none in that house!" O-Lan cried (Buck 30). She wanted the Old Mistress to be the first one to see their child fulfilling her promise after her marriage. O-Lan had thought out a big plan to return to the house in style, and Wang Lung did not expect this. O-Lan wanted to "return to that house it will be with my son in my arms. I shall have a red coat on him and red-flowered trousers and on his head a hat with a small gilded Buddha sewn on the front and on his feet tiger-faced shoes (Buck 31). Wang Lung was surprised that she had planned this out the whole time she was out on the farms with him, and that was the most he had heard her speak, so he knew this would be a big occasion. O-Lan gave birth to the baby, and it was a baby boy which made Wang Lung and his father extremely happy.  

Analysis: The birth of a baby boy is very influential, especially in rural China, because a boy can help out on the farm and also pass on the family name. Wang Lung and his father were excited because of what the baby boy would represent. It is a Chinese custom to favor boys over girls. O-Lan refusing to let anyone see her childbirth was also meaningful because it shows that she wants to keep her promise to show the Old Woman her firstborn child. 

Chapter 4 

Summary: Chapter 4 is about what happened after the birth of Wang Lung and O-Lan's firstborn son. O-Lan did not work on the fields with Wang Lung today but instead stayed home and cooked. After working on the farm, Wang Lung went into town to buy eggs and red paper to make red eggs and to show the town that he had just had a son. His son was described as "fat and good-natured and ate of the inexhaustible life his mother gave him" (Buck 38). His son's birth also brought a big amount of luck to the farm because they had a fantastic harvest, and they were prepared for winter. Another reason for Wang Lung's success was because of how frugal he and O-Lan were. Wang Lung's uncle, on the other hand, was not a likable person and a big spender taking away from their harvest. When his son was one month old, they celebrated with noodles, representing a long life, and gave the guests boiled and dyed red eggs. The New Year was also coming up, so Wang Lung and O-lan had to prepare to celebrate. At the end of the chapter, they needed a place to hide their silver, so O-Lan told Wang Lung to hide it in the wall and told no one else about it. 

Analysis: This chapter signifies the importance of tradition in families and also how it is beneficial to be frugal. Wang Lung celebrates tradition by hosting a one-month-old birthday party for his son. He gives all the guests red-dyed eggs showing off that he has a son and the importance of one. They also plan to celebrate the New Year. It is also important to be frugal in order to stay stable and be prepared for setbacks, something Wang Lung's uncle should take notes on.

Chapter 5 

Summary: In chapter 5, the New Year was approaching, and everyone in the village was getting ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Wang Lung went into town to buy squares of red paper with Chinese characters in gilt ink representing happiness and riches. Wang Lung then went home to put these around his farm for good luck in the new year and also lit incense to the gods at the temple. O-lan also helped out in preparing for Chinese New Year by making moon cakes, which during that time was only something the rich feasted on and the poor dreamed of, so Wang Lung was extremely prideful when he found out O-lan could make them. O-lan also prepared extra moon cakes to give to The Old Mistress when she takes her son to meet her for the first time. O-lan planned to "take the child on the second day of the New Year and carry the cakes for a gift" (Buck 41). After finishing up preparing for the new year, the family had a Chinese New Year celebration. On the second day after the new year, Wang Lung, O-lan, and their son went to the Hwang house wearing red, and their son wore what O-lan had planned for him to wear from Chapter 3. This is going to be the first time that The Old Mistress sees their son, and O-lan wants to show her that she is doing well on her own. When they got to the gate, they met the guardsmen again, and they were impressed with how well-off they looked at let them in. O-lan and Wang Lung noticed how off the Hwang house seemed from they last met because The Old Mistress was wearing an old coat from last year, which O-lan mentioned never happens, and also the children were all wearing old coats, not as nice as their own son's. O-lan says that the Hwang family is currently going through the first hardship that she has seen, and the cook says that they are suffering because the family is spending too much and not saving. Wang Lung was content with how well off he was compared to the Hwang family. Toward the end of the chapter, the Hwang family says that they need to sell some of their land and Wang Lung offers to buy it from "the great House of Hwang." Wang Lung felt on the same level as the wealthy Hwang family by buying their land. 

 Analysis: This chapter signifies the importance of saving money and not excessively spending and also working hard and taking chances. Compared to the Hwang family, Wang Lung, and O-Lan have done the most they can to save as much money as possible, like fixing their shoes in previous chapters, while the Hwang family has excessively spent their money on unnecessary things like opium. Over time we can see which lifestyle is more sustainable, and Wang Lung and O-lan turn out to be more well-off than the once-great Hwang family. Also, hard work has brought them this far because Wang Lung and O-lan work hard on their farms while the Hwang family hires slaves and doesn't work as hard. 

Chapter 6

Summary: Chapter 6 is about Wang Lung's new acquisition of the Hwang land. At first, he was filled with joy about buying land from the great Hwang family, but now he realizes the amount of work needed to upkeep that land and has second thoughts about the purchase after looking at the empty wall where all the silver used to be. Adding to this stress, O-lan told Wang Lung that she was pregnant with another child, so she could not help Want Lung on the new farm. However, over time, Wang Lung got used to the work on the new farm, and O-lan soon gave birth to another son. They were both grateful and excited to have another son, and Wang Lung said, "Sons every year; the house was full of good fortune" (Buck 49). This statement turned out to be true, and they also had another great harvest this year, and all the hard work paid off. 

Analysis: This chapter further proves that with hard work and determination, things will go great in the long run, even though it might not seem like it currently. After buying the land from the Hwang family, Wang Lung was content but then had second thoughts about it after working on the new land. Even though he despised it, he still pulled through and worked hard. This then paid off with a great harvest, and he had another son bringing him good fortune. 

Chapter 7

Summary: In chapter 7, Wang Lung's uncle comes around again, stealing from Wang Lung's farm and bothering him. Even though he steals to feed his family of 9, he does not put any effort into the farm but instead resorts to stealing. Wang Lung mentions how terrible and lazy his uncle's family was and how his daughter is out on the village street even at a "marriageable age." His uncle attempts to talk to Wang Lung to try and get any money out of him, but he resists saying how incompetent his uncle is. His uncle tries to ask for money from him again on a different day when Wang Lung is working on his farm; however, this time, Wang Lung is angered and screams at him, which is very disrespectful of him to insult an elder. His uncle wanted the silver to find a matchmaker for his daughter, and then Wang Lung finally gave in. Thinking back, Wang Lung noticed how these issues were caused by his uncle's daughter, and he is worried about having a daughter in the future. Toward the end of the chapter, Wang Lung's fear comes true, and O-lan gives birth to a girl. Want Lung was worried that she would bring him bad luck in the future because a girl was considered "an evil omen."

Analysis: Chapter 7 shows that even with hard work, you need supportive people surrounding you. Unsupportive and irresponsible people, like Wang Lung's uncle, will bring individuals down in the long run. This chapter also shows that people should be careful with their actions, even though how angry they can be. Wang Lung screamed at his uncle, and he suffered the consequence.

Chapter 8

Summary: In chapter 8, Wang Lung's fear of bad luck because of the birth of his daughter comes true. The summer rains have withheld themselves, and there were no rain clouds this season, so the farm suffered. The crops went dry and "ceased their growing and stood motionless." This drought took a toll on Wang Lung and his family, but not as much as it negatively impacted the Hwang family financially. Wang Lung was able to purchase a plot of land from the Hwag that was twice as large as his last acquisition. The Hwang House was desperate for silver because they had run out of food. The rain still has not fell, and the harvests were scanty. Adding to this suffering, O-lan was pregnant with another child, so there was another mouth to feed in this drought. Over time their food supply became worse and worse, so they had no choice but to kill and eat Wang Lung's precious work ox. O-lan had to kill the ox because Wang Lung had such a connection to the beast, but they were starving, so they had no choice. During this time, there was also a lot of crime because people were getting desperate for food. People from the village broke into Wang Lung's house to steal his food and also tried to steal his furniture, but O-lan criticized them for stealing the furniture. At the end of the chapter Wang Lung was defeated, but he still had hope because he still had his land. He says that people can steal his silver and his food, but they can't steal his land, and he can work hard to get it all back. 

Analysis: In this chapter, we can see that individuals need to prepare for the worse and save up reserves. Even though Wang Lung was suffering, the once-great Hwang family was struggling to survive and sold their land to Wang Lung. Wang Lung was better at managing his money and worked harder than the Hwang family, so it paid off. Wang Lung took his change and invested his money when everyone was fearful. Also, this chapter teaches us about the worse of people. When individuals are starving and struggling to supply that is when the terrible emotions of fear and greed come to light. As a result of this fear, the townspeople robbed Wang Lung's food supply.

Chapter 9

Summary: In chapter 10, the drought and famine in the village worsened. Wang Lung cursed at the gods for making them suffer like this. Across the land, there were no animals or crops in sight, and people started eating whatever they could find like grasses or bugs. In Wang Lung's family, his father fared the best because he was given the food first before anyone, and he was the most cheerful and energic, bringing some light into the family. Ching, Wang Lung's neighbor, came by and informed him about how people in the town were starting to eat human flesh, and even his hated uncle. Wang Lung was filled with fear for himself and his family. Ching ended up giving Wang Lung some of his dried beans because he had regrets about robbing him. The day after that, O-lan gave birth to the fourth child, a girl, but she did not get to live long. Wang Lung heard one cry from her and then no more cries. O-lan had killed the baby so she would not be another burden to the family, hoping to make things better with one less mouth to feed. Things got worse, and Wang Lung was starting to lose hope. His uncle came by his house, looking skinny but not starved, and offered to buy some of his lands for a cheap price, but of course, Wang Lung refused to sell him the land, but he sold some of his furniture. Toward the end of the chapter, Wang Lung thought of moving South in hopes of food and a better future. 

Analysis: In this chapter, the lesson of sacrifices is taught. O-lan had to kill her infant daughter for the better of the family. The family was struggling with food during the time, and having one more mouth to feed would not help the situation, so it was the only option. Even if she kept the baby it was going to die from starvation sooner or later. During that time, killing a female newborn was not a crazy idea because Chinese culture favored boys, so people occasionally killed their first daughter.

Chapter 10

Summary: Wang Lung and his family packed up their clothes and whatever was left with their food and got ready to travel south in hopes of food. When they were packed up and read, he closed his house door and "fastened the iron hasp." This moment was monumental to Wang Lung and his family because he was running away from his home and his land. Wang Lung carried his father on his back, and O-Lan carried their daughter. He traveled through the town in order to get to the train station. Along the way, he passed statues of the two gods and also the house of the rich. He saw that the rich were making wine out of rice while the poor was starving and begging for the rich. At the end of the chapter, the Wang Lung family boards the train and starts heading south. 

Analysis: Chapter 10 signifies the importance of sacrifice and also was a big turning point in the story. Wang Lung had to give up his farm and his home in search of food down south. He would have to leave everything behind him, but it was for the better. His family was starving, and he needed to make a sacrifice in order to help out his family.