Chapter Summaries and Analysis: Chapters 11-20

Chapter 11

Summary: On the train, "with his two pieces of silver, Wang Lung paid for a hundred miles of road" (Buck 77). It was all the silver he had left, and he also managed to buy some food for the journey. There were also many other men and women with them on the train, and they talked to Wang Lung about their experiences in the famine and also their experience down south. People on the train tell him he should start begging when he gets south but Wang Lung does not like the idea of that and wants to find a job. Wang Lung got all the money he got left to buy six mats and some rice, and this was "his new life." Wang Lung found a job pulling a yellow ricksaw and O-lan and their two sons begged for money. They made enough money to buy food, but that was about it. Many others were also struggling to make money and survive just like they were. 

Analysis: In this chapter, we can see that no matter how bad the situation is, the family stays together. Family is an extremely important bond needed to support and uplift each other. Without family, Wang Lung would not have gotten the support he needed to work hard. Also, this chapter shows that Wang Lung does not want to hurt his pride and become a beggar, so he chooses to work for money. 

Chapter 12

Summary: In chapter 12, we can see that life for Wang Lung and his family is getting slightly better. They had rice to eat every morning, and they continued to work and beg. Wang Lung got time to know the town that he was in and noticed that he "lived in the rich city as alien as a rat in a rich man's house that is fed the scraps thrown away" (Buck 88). There were many rich people in the town enjoying their lives and spending money to please themselves, while people like Wang Lung struggled. Wang Lung also met some foreigners that looked completely different than him, and they gave him some silver. He notices that he may not be so "alien" after all, and there are people more different than he is. Towards the middle of the chapter, O-lan notices that their family needs to do more to support themselves, so they resort to stealing. O-lan allowed her boys to steal. Wang Lung only figured this out when they had pork for dinner, which his son stole. Wang Lung was disappointed in his son for stealing and yelled at him. Even though Wang Lung resented stealing, O-lan was fine with it and said, "meat is meat" (Buck 93).

Analysis: In this chapter, Wang Lung's belief that hard work will pay off is further proven. Wang Lung wants to live an honest life and believes that it will pay off in the end. After discovering that his sons stole meat, he got angered and scolded them. He missed life back on his farm when he lived an honest life, and he wants to go back to it. 

Chapter 13

Summary: Poverty still continues for Wang Lung's family and also many others in the city. There is a clear foundation between the rich and the poor. The rich are well-fed and dressed in silk, while the poor are starving and "not clothes enough to cover bones" (Buck 93). Life in poverty was miserable, but the old men and women accepted the life that they had. On the other hand. The poor young men wanted to change and were filled with discontent. Wang Lung ached to go back to his home and would find any way to get that money. In the middle of the chapter, O-lan tells Wang Lung that she is pregnant again. Wang Lung is now more desperate to make a move, either to buy seeds or go home. Of course, they had no money to do either of these things, so O-lan suggested selling their daughter. O-lan reassured Wang Lung that selling her would not be a terrible idea because she was once sold too and that she would be more useful as money for the way back than dead because of starvation. Also, if she was sold into a rich family, then her life would be great. Wang Lung did not like this idea because he grew fond of his daughter. He is back and forth between his land and his daughter. Wang Lung loved both and had a hard time deciding what to do. 

Analysis: In this chapter, we can see the contrast between the social classes. People act differently and are treated differently, much like in our lives. We all have different issues to face, and all have challenges to overcome. This is what makes us equal to one another because we need to find solutions to our own problems. 

Chapter 14

Summary: In chapter 14, Wang Lung still thought of his land and life before they moved to the city. He felt that he "belonged, not to this scum which clung to the walls of a rich man's house; nor did he belong to the rich man's house. He belonged to the land and he could not live with any fullness until he felt the land under his feet and followed a plough in the springtime and bore a scythe in his hand at harvest" (Buck 100). While Wang Lung was working and pondering about his life, A western missionary gave Wang Lung a paper with writing on it; however, Wang Lung was illiterate, so he couldn't read it. There were pictures of war and different sides fighting each other with their opposing views and propaganda. In the middle of the chapter, there are signs of war stirring, and Wang Lung hears about the soldiers forcing poor men to serve in the army. The war worsened the living conditions of the poor, and the rich moved away. There was also becoming a shortage of food, and Wang Lung was considering selling his daughter. The enemy soon invades the city and robs the houses of the rich. Of course, wanting to find some money for himself, he goes to loot with the enemy, and Wang Lung managed to take a sac of gold coins, which would allow him to take his family back home to his land. 

Analysis: In this chapter, we can see the negatives of war and also Wang Lung's willingness to sell his daughter. In war, both the rich and the poor suffer. The rich have to leave all their stuff behind and get looted, and also, the poor get recruited into the war, increasing their chance of death. Not one side comes out a victory, and they all lose something. Also, Wang Lung's thought of selling his daughter sets the example of many poor families during the time because it was the best choice they had for themselves and their daughters. 

Chapter 15

Summary: In Chapter 15, he uses the gold he stole from the rich man's house during the raid to buy seed and an ox and returns home. The seeds he bought were "good seeds from the south" he had never planted before, like lotus, celery, and red radishes (Buck 114).  These seeds cost him 3 gold, and also the ox he bought was 5 gold. Wang Lung was happy on his way back to his home and excited to plant the new seeds. When he got home, he saw that his door had been torn down and the roof had collapsed. Even though seeing the terrible state of his home, he was still content and went back into town to find supplies to fix his house. Wang Lung was happy to be home and had nothing compared to what he had to face in the city. Then Ching, Wang Lung's neighbor, came by and said that Wang Lung's uncle and a band of robbers had lived in Wang Lung's house through the winter. Ching also apologized for going through his house when he got desperate. Ching's family did not do well throughout the famine, and he was the only one left. He gave away his daughter for a chance at a better life, and his wife died. Wang Lung offered to help Ching plow his land with his ox to repay him for the beans he offered before they went South. Wang Lung was filled with joy when he found out know on knew where his uncle was so he wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. Even his uncle's family was all gone because he sold his daughters. Towards the end of the chapter, Wang Lung works on his farm and fixes up his home. He lit some incense in the small temple for good luck because he thought that the gods "have power over the earth" (Buck 119). 

Analysis: In this chapter, we can see that desperation can bring out the worse in humans. Both Wang Lung and Ching have been through the same desperate situation so that is why they resorted to robbery. Wang Lung forgave Ching for looting his house because he felt the same way and offered to help Ching instead of hating him. Another thing is forgiveness and compassion for another. Wang Lung and Ching are shown many things throughout the book with these qualities and that is what makes both of them good people. 

Chapter 16

Summary: At the beginning of this chapter Wang Lung discovered that O-lan also stole from the rich during the raid. She found out where the rich hid their most precious jewels because she used to be in one of the rich families. She saw a loose brick in the wall and snuck in when no one was looking and took all the jewels. With this, Wang Lung wanted to buy some more land but O-lan wanted to keep" two for herself," of them so Wang Lung allowed it. After that, Wang Lung went back to the Hwang house to see if they had land to sell. There he only found The Old Master and Cuckoo, a slave. Those two were the only ones that were left of the great Hwang House. The Old Master explained that the bandits raided their house and took all of their food, valuables, and slaves, leaving them with nothing. The Old Mistress herself passed away from fright when the bandits came, raided their house, and gagged her. At the end of the chapter, he managed to purchase a lot of the Old Master's land for the jewels O-lan found.

Analysis: In chapter 16, we can see Wang Lung's kindness with O-lan. Typically in Chinese culture, the wife does not expect to keep any valuables or money to themselves, even if they found or made it on their own. The man of the house keeps and manages all of the money. This is why O-lan was surprised when Wang Lung let her keep the 2 pearls she asked for. 

Chapter 17

Summary: In chapter 17, Wang Lung was content with his new land and expanded his house. Wang Lung asked Ching to "'Sell me the little parcel of land that you have and leave your lonely house and come into my house and help me with my land" (Buck 129). He knew that Ching would be trustworthy and a hard worker, so he wanted him to help out on his farm. This year was going great and there was an abundance of rain after the drought and they planted more seeds than they ever have planted.  When the harvest came, Ching and Wang Lung couldn't harvest it all on their own, so he hired two other laborers from the village. In the middle of the chapter, O-lan gives birth to twins, a boy, and a girl. Wang Lung is happy with the birth of twins and also because he has the resources to care for them now. After that, he found out that his eldest daughter was disabled and did not do things that were right for her age. He regrets thinking of selling her because if 'If I had sold this poor mouse and they found her thus hey would have killed her" (Buck 131). As a result of this, he becomes closer to her and keeps her by his side at the farm. 

Analysis: In this chapter, we discover that Wang Lung's oldest daughter is retarded and slower than the typical child. Contrary to belief at the time, Wang Lung loved and appreciated her even more. Most people thought of mentally challenged children as a burden and some of them were sent away or even killed so the parents wouldn't have to deal with them. This is a big character-building event for Wang Lung.  

Chapter 18

Summary: In chapter 18, the seventh year came of when he moved back to his land. This year a big flood came because of the excess of rain and also the great river to the north. However, Wang Lung was not afraid of this event because only two-fifths of his land was flooded, and he still had the rest. He had stored up enough food and money to rest a bit. Wang Lung became more lazy than he had ever been in his life. With the laborers, the flood, and the reserve built, Wang Lung did not feel like working like he used to and became bored. Then Wang Lung looks at his wife closely for the first time and realizes how unattractive she is. Wang Lung cried out at her, "'Now anyone looking at you would say you were the wife of a common fellow and never of one who has land! which he hires men to plough!' (Buck 138). He finds her not to fit the beauty standard of a wealthy man with all this land. However, later on, he realizes that he would not have all of this money and land without O-lan stealing the jewels. Toward the end of the chapter, Wang Lung goes to a tea shop that he used to pass by, and It does not impress him as it used to when he was not as successful. Disappointed, he goes to a new tea shop from the south and sees Cuckoo. This new place and a lot of entertainment and also pictures of women on the wall he could meet if he paid enough silver. The worker shows the pictures to Wang Lung and tries to convince him to spend his silver. In his head, Wang Lung chose a woman, and she was "one most beautiful, a small, slender thing, a body light as a bamboo and a little face as pointed as a kitten's face, and one hand clasping the stem of a lotus flower in bud, and the hand as delicate as the tendril of a fern uncurled" (Buck 144). 

Analysis: In chapter 18, we can see that as more wealthy Wang Lung got, the more he resembled the once-great Hwang family. He becomes less hard-working and lets his laborers do all the work, and he wants nicer things to cure his boredom. He also has a desire for more beautiful women after he takes a good look at O-lan. Wang Lung is falling into a trap that the Hwang family fell into and he needs to snap out of it soon.

Chapter 19

Summary: In this chapter, Wang Lung further falls into the trap of the rich. Wang Lung went back to the tea shop, but this time with silver in his hand. He saw Cuckoo and gave her his silver to see Lotus, the beautiful girl Wang Lung saw in the picture the other day. Cuckoo led Wang Lung up to the room where Lotus was, and he was captivated by her beauty. As a result of this, Wang Lung became obsessed with her and came back to her every day, spending his silver on her. Wang Lung's lifestyle also changed. He started spending more money on clothes and changed his style to please Lotus, and he no longer worked on the farm. He asked O-lan to give him her pearls so he could give them to a "fair woman," in this case, Lotus. 

Analysis: In chapter 19 we can see the shift in Wang Lung's character because of Lotus. He is now no longer hardworking and spends a lot of money. Wang Lung is becoming much like the Hwang family and spending money on unnecessary desires. This shows that money can bring bad influences to cure boredom only if someone does not know how to control it. 

Chapter 20

Summary: In chapter 20, Wang Lung continued to spend his silver on Lotus until it ran out. Adding to this bad event, Wang Lung's uncle returned out of nowhere looking for some food and money. Even worse, his uncle saw how big his house was, so he wanted to stay at his house with his wife and son. Wang Lung's uncle's wife tells O-lan that Wang Lung is probably seeing another woman because of his changed appearance. She said, "Well, and I have seen many a man, and when—one smooths his hair and buys new clothes and will have his shoes velvet all of a sudden, then there is a new woman, and that is sure" (Buck 156). She also tells O-lan that wealthy husbands seek many beautiful wives. Hearing this, O-lan cries and becomes disappointed in Wang Lung. Wang Lung now didn't care much about O-lan and asked his uncle's wife if she could help him buy Lotus. He criticizes O-lan and says she needs to brush her hair and be easier on the eyes. Toward the end of the chapter Wang Lung managed to buy Lotus with the help of his uncle's wife. He builds a new area for his house for Lotus to live in. Lotus wanted only Cuckoo to be her servant, so he also paid Cuckoo to stay with them. Wang Lung is very content when Lotus is at his house and he spends more time with Lotus, sleeping with her every night, and leaving O-lan. 

Analysis: During this time in China, wives were like property to their husbands, so their opinion and views did not matter. Some of the wealthier ones wanted more wives and prettier wives as a martial symbol. This was why O-land did not have much say about Wang Lung bringing home Lotus and why she did not do more to prevent Wang Lung from going to Lotus.