olans-survival-philosophy-in-the-good-earth-英語專業(yè)大學(xué)論文

原創(chuàng)性聲明本人鄭重聲明：所提交的學(xué)位論文是本人在導(dǎo)師指導(dǎo)下，獨(dú)立進(jìn)行研究取得的成果。除文中已經(jīng)注明引用的內(nèi)容外，論文中不含其他人已經(jīng)發(fā)表或撰寫過的研究成果，也不包含為獲得聊城大學(xué)或其他教育機(jī)構(gòu)的學(xué)位證書而使用過的材料。對(duì)本文的研究做出重要貢獻(xiàn)的個(gè)人和集體，均已在文中以明確方式標(biāo)明。本人承擔(dān)本聲明的相應(yīng)責(zé)任。學(xué)位論文作者簽名：日期指導(dǎo)教師簽名：日期ABSTRACTTheGoodEarthisthemasterpieceofPearlS.Buck,whichmainlytellstherelationshipbetweenWangLungandtheearth.\o""O-lan—thefirstwifeofWangLung,usedtobeaslaveinthehouseofHwang.Awomanoffewwords,sheissimplemindedbutnonethelessisvaluabletoWangLungfortheskillssheacquiredpreviously.Sheishardworkingandself-sacrificing.Manyofherrightsaredeprivedbythesociety,butshefacestheminherownwayandsheachievesherfinalvictorytobethebiggestwinner.BydepictingO-lan’ssurvivalphilosophyinTheGoodEarth,PearlBuckexploredthelivingconditionofChineselowerclasswomenin1930s,andprayedtheirgoodqualitiesofbeingstrongheart.KeyWords:survivalphilosophy;PearlS.Buck;theGoodEarth摘要《大地》是賽珍珠的代表作，主要講述了王龍一家和土地的緊密關(guān)系。阿蘭，王龍的正妻，曾經(jīng)是黃家大院的一個(gè)廚房丫頭。她沉默寡言，思想單純。但她之前所練就的本領(lǐng)和技能為王龍創(chuàng)造了極大的價(jià)值。她辛勤勞作，她自我犧牲。她所生活的社會(huì)剝奪了她許多許多的權(quán)利，但她不氣餒，她用自己的方式去爭(zhēng)取，最后成為最大的贏家。賽珍珠通過在《大地》中描寫19世紀(jì)30年代的中國(guó)下層?jì)D女的生存狀況，來闡述阿蘭的生存哲學(xué)；而她的生存哲學(xué)來源于她那顆作為女人的強(qiáng)大內(nèi)心。關(guān)鍵詞：生存哲學(xué)；賽珍珠；《大地》CONTENTSTOC\o"1-2"\h\z\u1.Introduction 11.1TheintroductionofTheGoodEarthandPearlS.Buck 11.2Literaryreview 22.O-lansurvivingbyherinfluenceinthefamily 32.1O-lan’sroleinthefamily 42.2O-lan’potentialpowerinthefamily 53.O-lansurvivingbysubmittingtothepatriarchalsociety 63.1O-lan’ssubmissivelyacceptingarrangedmarriage 63.2O-lancarryingoutthefemaleinfanticide 73.3O-lanresolutelybondingfeetforherdaughter 84.O-lansurvivingbyherwisdomandstrongness 94.1O-lan’wisdomhidingbehindherdumbness 94.2O-1an’sdiligenceandstrongness 115.Conclusion 13Bibliography 15Acknowledgments 16PAGE1O-lan’sSurvivalPhilosophyintheGoodEarth1.Introduction1.1TheintroductionofTheGoodEarthandPearlS.BuckPearlS.Buck,1892-1973,alsoknownbyherChinesenameSaiZhenzhu,wasanAmericanauthor.ShewonthePulitzerPrizein1938.AndshewasawardedtheNobelPrizeforLiteraturein1938forLiterature“forherrichandtrulyepicdescriptionsofpeasantlifeinChinaandforherbiographical”.(PresentationSpeechoftheNobelPrizeinLiterature)However，Pearlandherworkswereneglectedandmisunderstoodbymostofreviewersfromhomeandabroadforaverylongtime．Nowadays，theculturalintacthasbecomeaninevitabletrendoftheworldculturaldevelopment．ItisintheparticularculturalcontextthatwehaverediscoveredPearlBuckwhodevotedherentirelifetotheSino-Americanculturalcommunicationandwhoheldtheidealof“Allunderheavenareone”.WhenwecometogiveanewassessmentofPearlBuckandherworks．WearesuretodiscovertheuniqueandconspicuoussignificancePearlBuckandherworksdemonstrated．InTheGoodEarth，PearlBuckemployedO-lan，whotastedthebitternessresultedfromthetediousdoctrinesofConfucianism，tofightagainstthesuppressingandoutdatednormsandmorality；sheemployedWangLung，ahard-workingChinesefarmer，withthehighqualitiesofdiligence，persistence，simplicityandkindness，todemonstratesthemeritsofConfucianism．Whatshouldbeemphasizedisthatshepointedoutweaknessandstrengthofaculturenottoprovetheinevitabilityofculturalconflictsandclashes，buttopresentthecultural...ThepaperdecidestoconductasurveyconcerningPearlBuck’sviewpointsonO-laninTheGoodEarth,todiscoverhowPearlBuckinterpretedwomen’survivalphilosophyinascientificway.1.2LiteraryreviewReviewingthepastsixtyyearsofstudiesonPearlS.Buckandherworks,wefindthattheyinvolvenegationandconfirmation，extremityandfairness.Wecanputthemroughlyintothreephases．Inthefirstphase，mainlyin1930sand1940sinChina,thestudiesbeganwithfirstvoicesofcriticizingforthecolonialismandtheimperialismwhichwouldprobablybepresentinherworks.Amongthecritiques,HuFeng，whocriticizedthedefectsofPearlS．Buck’sworks,suggestedthattheauthorhadnotrevealedtheimperialisticaggressionontheChineseinherrepresentativeworks,TheGoodEarth.Itwasnotunique,buthaditscounterpartwiththeviewfromZhuXiuxiawhosecritiquehadbecomemoredirectandincisive．SheorientatedTheGoodEarthasabookmerelyforthoseso-calledhigherforeignwhite-skinnedladiesandgentlementoenjoytheirownarrogance，andconcludedinherarticlethatPearlS．BuckwasrightlyamouthpieceofimperialisticrulerssoastoanesthetizeChinesepeoplewithhertrickyskillsinwritingoffthecruelfactoftheimperialisticaggressiononChinaanditspeople．ThefirsttouchonthestudiesofPearlS．Buck'sworkshadinevitablyaffectedthekeynoteofthefollowingresearch．Inthesecondphase,during50’sand60’s,theresearchhadtoextremesoftotalonMrs.Buckgonenegation.Concerningthefirsttwophases，wecanobviouslyseethatthecritiqueshave，tosomeextent，beendrivenbythepoliticsandculturalcontextofthepeculiartimeofhistoryinChinatoanextreme，whichhadinfluencedtherelativestudiesformorethantentill1980s.Thenitcametoanewstageinwhich，benefitingfromtheOpeningPolicyinourcountry，PearlS．BuckhasbeenstudiedasalivingbridgebetweenChineseandWesternculturesinourresearchfieldofforeignliteratures．FormanyChineseexpertsandscholars，1988，whichwaspointedoutbyYaoJunweiinhisarticleabouttheretrospectofresearchonPearlS．Buck，playsanimportantroleinthestudiesaboutPearlS．Buck，sinceWangFengzhenandothersevenexpertsworkedtogetheronthetranslationofTheGoodEarthTrilogy，whichisregardedasadirecteffortinpromotingnewappraisalfromChinesescholarstoPearlS．Buckandherworks．Hence，theChineseversionofherotherworkssuchasMother，MySeveralWorlds，cameintobeing，gearingtotheneedsofresearchingandreadingpublic.Inrecentyears，ateamofscholarsincollegeshasbecomeastableforceintheresearchonPearlS．Buck．TheresearchhasdevelopedintoseveralnewfieldsincludingtheaspectofcomparativeliteratureandcomparativeculturologybyDr．XuQingfromtheChineseDepartmentofNanjingUniversity，culturalrelativismbyDr．YaoJunweifromShanghaiForeignLanguageUniversity，imageologybyGuJunfromBeijingUniversity,andfeminism，theoryofprototypeandneocolonialism,etc.Thegloballifetodayhasgreatlypromotedworldeconomyandsciencetoastageoforganicwhole.Asfarasculturesareconcerned,weneedrichandvariedculturestoenlightenourlives．IdenticaltowhatwasearnestlypromotedbyPearlS．Buck,weneedtheexchangeofdifferentculturesaswellastheequalityandharmonybetweenEasternandWesterncultures.Fromthispointofview，thestudiesaboutMrs.．Buck’sworkswillguideustofindmorecluestoadvancetheexchange.TherearemostpreviousstudiesoftheperspectiveonthePearlBuck’sattitudetowardsthecharacters.Butinthisthesis,theregularreadersreviewedinagreatdealfemaleO-lan’sview.MoreistothateraChinesesocietyforwomen’sgreatcharacterexpressedthroughtheirownunderstanding,ratherthansimplybythemouthofPearlS.BuckexpresssympathyforO-lan,hereismainlyadmiration.2.O-lansurvivingbyherinfluenceinthefamilyForalongtime,womenaretreatedasweak,andarethoughttobecomparedwithmen.However,nomatterinhistory,literatureorinreality,wecanalwaysseestrongimagesofwomenwhoareevenmorepowerfulthanmen.InthenovelTheGoodEarth,O-lanisthemainfemininecharacter.

SheisawomansoldtothewealthyHuangfamilyasaslavewhenshewastenyearsold.AftershemarriesWangLung,sheachievesarespectablepositionasthemotherofthreesons.Sheisastrong,hardworking,resourcefulwomanandadevotedwife.ManypeopleremarkO-lan’simageasatragedy,surely,itisreasonable,butthischapterwillsaysomethingaboutO-lan’sstrongandquietpowerthroughhertragicdestiny.Shehasmadealleffortstobuildupahomeindeedbelongingtoherandwhatshecontributestothefamilyhasconsolidatedherpositioninthefamily，whichhasaswelltrainedthewomantobeofsubjectconsciousness．2.1O-lan’sroleinthefamilyObviously,womenmainlyactasthewifeandmotherinafamily.WhenO-lanlivedintheHuangfamily,shewasaservantgirl,ormoreaccurateshewasjustaslavelivinginaverylowclass.AftershemarriesWangLung,herrolewaschanged.Shewasnotaslaveanymore,butbecomeaman’swife.Thisisaturningpointinherdestiny.Inafamilyatthatstage,womenwerealwaysthoughtattachedtomen,andshouldobeythem.Shetakescareofthewholefamily,givesbirth,andundertakesthewholehousework.What’smore,sheevengoestothefarm,workstogetherwithherhusband.Itseemsthatsheisthemosthardworkingpeopleinthefamily,andpaysoutmorethaneveryoneinthefamily.However,thesocietydecidesthatsheisstilllowerinthefamilyandshouldobeyherhusband,becausesheisawoman.Shefeelssatisfiedwiththesituation;atleast,itismuchbetterthanthelifeintheHuangfamily.Itishersurvivalway,themanchangedherrole,butshecreatesanindependentlifeofherown.Shegivesbirthallbyherselfwithoutanyone’shelp,makesclothandshoesallbyherhands.Shehidesherpainandtoleratesherhusband’ssecondwife.Thiskindofindependentspiritandsilentstruggleisappreciateandadmirable.Suchwomeninliteraryisnotasmallpart.HesterofScareLetterisalsoawomanownastrongwillwhomakesalivingallbyherself;ScarlettO'HaraofGonewiththeWindalsohasastrongheartthatneverbebeatdown.Itsaysthatmanknowsthephilosophyoflife,butwomanknowsthelife.Women’swisdomismortalandclosetothepracticallifeandthiskindofwisdomoftencastsmanintoshade.“Amanneedtwowives,oneforloveandanotherforattachthebuttons”then“womanalsocansayawomanneedtwohusbands,oneforlove,andanotherformaintainingthefamily”.Soneverlookdownwomen’spositioninthefamily,theyactanimportantroletoholdthefamily’sbalance.2.2O-lan’potentialpowerinthefamilyPeoplealwayssaywomanisamysteriouscreature.Infact,women’smysteriousisbecausetheyalwayshiddensomecharacteristics,suchastheirabilitiesandwisdom.Ifthepowerburstout,itwillevencreateamiracle.“Thelandwewillnotsell,surely,”shesaid,“Elsewhenwereturnfromthesouthweshallhavenothingtofeedus.Butwewillsellthetableandthetwobedsandthebeddingandthefourbenchesandeventhecauldronfromthestove.Buttherakesandthehoeandtheplowwewillnotsell,northeland.”TherewassomecalmnessinhervoicewhichcarriedmorestrengththanallWangLung’sanger.Whenthedisasterforcesthemtoleavetheplace,WangLungwantstosellhislandthustheywillhavemoneytogototheSouth.Buthefeelspainful,forthelandhasbeenpartofhislife,hedoesn’tknowwhattodo.ThenO-lancameoutandmadethedecision.Inanurgentsituation,sheismuchwiserandcalmerthanWangLung.Itisastrongbutquietpower.Women’spowerispotential.SuchastheScarlett,sheisonceabeautyandproudgirl,butwhentheyfellintothedifficulties,sheswearsstrongly,“AsGodismywitness;I'llneverbehungryagain.”UnlikeO-lan’squietpower,itisastrongandpowerfuloutburst,andshemakesitassheswears.Besidesthestrongwill,women’sabilityisalsoamazing.O-lan’sabilitymeettherequirementsofthesociety,shehasdoneeverythingagoodwomanshoulddointhattime.“Throughalltheseyearshadfollowedhimfaithfullyasadog.”“Whenhewaspoorandlaboredinthefieldshimselfsheleftherbedevenafterachildwasbornandcametohelphimintheharvestfields”.ThiswasWanglung’sthoughtswhenheisblamingher.Heknowsshehasnowrongtobeblamed,buthestillcan’tcontrolhimself.Isitthewomen’stragedyorthesociety’stragedy?O-lan’sabilityisfullofhardshipsandtragedy,makepeoplefeelsorry,butitalsoshowsfortitudeofher.InChinesehistory,thereisalsoawomanwhoseabilityevencanmatchwiththemanHuaMulan.Sheactsasamanjoinsthearmy,andshowsherbraveandstrongabilityinwar.Besides,inEnglishhistory,therealsoappearedapowerfulwomanElizabeth.Shewasonceasimpleandna?vetégirl.Thenlatertheresponsibilityleadsherfromaninnocentgirltoamatureandpowerfulwoman.Sheprovedherselfbyaction,asshesaid:“Iamawoman,butIhaveaheartasmen.”Sodon’tignorewomen’sability,theyalsohaveaheartasman,youwillneverknowwhentheywillshowoutandchangethelife.3.O-lansurvivingbysubmittingtothepatriarchalsociety3.1O-lan’ssubmissivelyacceptingarrangedmarriageArrangedMarriage，presidedoverbytheparents，wasatraditionalmaritalconceptinChina．Inthelate19thChina，romanticlovewasnotpartofwhathusbandandawifeexpectedinamarriage．Marriagewasameansofextendingthepatriarchallineage．ThiswasclearlyillustratedinTheGoodEarth.AyearbeforeWangLung'smarriage，hisfatherrequestedaslavefromtheHouseofHwangforhissontomarry．AsanimpoverishedChinesepeasant，WangLung'sfatherstrictlyfollowedtheprincipleofutilitywhenselectingO-lan.Hisrequestwasfor“notaslavetooyoung，andaboveall，notaprettyone．Wemusthaveawomanwhowilltendthehouseandbearchildrenassheworksinthefields．”(PearlS．Buck，1982：10)WangLungatfirstcouldnotacceptsuchapre-arrangedmarriage．Buthisfathersaid：“thereremainonlyslavestobehadforthepoor．”(PearlS．Buck，1982：7)ThiswasthecommonpracticefornineteenthcenturyChina．Themarriageprocesswastakencareofbytheparents，whohadabsolutepowerinchoosingaspousefortheirchildren．Thechildrenhadnochoiceinthismatterbuttofulfilltheirwishes．Inaword，marriagewasafamilymatter，notsomethingpersonalWangLungandO-1anlivedthroughhardtimesofpovertyandfamineandbecameprosperousat1ast．O-1anappearedtobestrongerandmorecompetentthanWangLunginfrontofthecrises．Whenadroughtresultedinapoorharvestandtheysufferedfromtheirenvious，starvingneighborslootingofthe1ittlefood，WangLungcoulddonothingbutsighedindespair，itwasO-lanwhoresolutelystoppedthelootingandkilledtheoxtofeedthefamilywhenpeoplefromthecitycametobuytheirlandatanextremelylowprice，althoughWangLungdesperatelywantedit，hecouldspeaknothingexceptstoodshakingandwept,itwasO-lanwhowalkedoutofthehouseandspokedecisivelywithhercalmbutfirmvoicetothebuyersthattheywouldnotselltheland．AfterthefamilyneedfromnaturaldisasterstoNanking，whenthefamilywasthreatenedtobestarvedtodeath，againitwasO-lanwhoskillfu11yerectedatentastheirhomeandtaughtthechildrenandtheoldhowthebegtomakethelivingcontinue．Inaword，herresourcefulnesswaswhatresponsibleforthefamily'ssurvivalandprosperity.Toacertainextent，hercontributiontothefamilywasgreaterthanWangLung.3.2O-lancarryingoutthefemaleinfanticideInTheGoodEarth,whenWangLung'sthirdchildwasborntobeagirl，heregardeditasanevilomen．Duringthefamine，whenWangLungandhisfamilydidn'thavefoodtoallaytheirhunger，anothergirlwasborn，O-lanstrangledthegirlbabytodeathbrutallyrightafterherbirthtoreducetheburdenofthefamily.WangLungsaidnothing.Hewrappedthedeadbabywithabrokenmat,thenputitdownthehollowsideofanoldgrave．InChinesetradition,daughterswerebornandraisedforotherfamiliesbecausetheywouldleaveherfather'shomeandserveherhusband'shouseholdwhenshegrewup．Thelivesofgirlsweresoinsignificanttothefamilythattheyweresacrificedeitherbykilling,desertingorsellingwhenthefamilywasinneed.O-lanwassoldtoagreathouseatten;WangLungalsothoughtaboutsellinghisdaughtersothathecouldaffordtoreturntohisland.Theoldcustomoffavoringboysovergirlsdeprivedtheequalitybetweenmenandwomenfromtheverybeginningoflife.O-lanasawomanwasdestinedtobesubordinateonbirth.Butwhenshewastodie,sheblamedherparentstosellher.Shekilledherdaughterwhichwasaprotestforthefemaleinfancide.Toavoidherdaughter’sdestiny,shekilledherdaughterbyherself.Fromherchildhood,O-lanconstantlysufferedfromnegligence，mistreatmentandhumiliation.Shehadnorightofeducation，norightoffindinganoccupation，evenwhenshebecomeadult，shestillhadnochancetobeindependent．Butsheisluckyenoughtosurvivebyherobediencetofemaleinfanticide.3.3O-lanresolutelybondingfeetforherdaughterFootbindingwasacommonphenomenoninoldChina．Thebindingprocess，whichhadtobebegunattheageofonetothree，wasextremelypainfulandendedinpermanentcrippling．Sobehindthestoryofeverypairofsmallfeet，therewasajarfulloftears．Theprocedure，usuallycarriedoutbythemother，lastedtentofifteenyears，untilthefootreducedtothreeinchesinlengthfromheeltotoeandtheonlypurposeofsuchunbearablesufferingwasnothingbuttocaterfortheman'stasteofbeautyandtherewardofitwastheappreciationofmenandtheprideandself-confidenceshegotfromthepraiseofmen．Womeneasilybecamemen’splaythingwithboundfeet.Suchaproductofbrutality，ofwomen'stearsandsuffering，turnedouttobegreatlyadmired，playedwith，andevenworshipedbythemen．ItbecamethemosteroticorganofthefemalebodyandthehighestsophisticationoftheChinesesensualimagination．Havingsuchapairofsmallboundfeet，withitslittlefalteringdance-likesteps，wasanagreedbeautyawomancouldpossess，andsometimesmen'sonlystandardintermsofbeautytochooseawife．Mencouldsimplynotmarryawomanwithnaturalunboundfeet．Foot-bindingplayedanimportantroleinTheGoodEarth．WhenWangLongsawO-lanforthefirsttime，hewasseizedwithaninstant'sdisappointmentbecauseherfeetwerenotbound.HemarriedO-lansimplybecausehewasapoorfarmer，heneededawifewhocouldtendthehouseandbearchildrenandworkinthefield．Later．whenhebecamewealthier，hebecameincreasing1ydisgustedwithO-lan'sbigfeetandwasinfatuatedwithLotus．WhenLotusswayeduponherlittlefeet，WangLungfelttherewasnothingsowonderfulforbeautyintheworld．WangLung'sattitudeenforcedO-lantobindherdaughter'sfeet．WhenWangLungaskedthereasonformarksoftearsonhercheeks，hisyoungdaughtersays，“BecausemymotherbindsaclothaboutmyfeetmoretightlyeverydayandIcannotsleepatnight”.“NowIhavenotheardyouweep”，hesaid，wondering“No”．Shesaidsimply，“andmymothersaidTwasnottoweepaloudbecauseyouaretookindandweakforpainandyoumightsaytoleavemeasIam，andthenmyhusbandwouldnotlovemeevenasyoudonotloveher．”(Pearls，Buck，1982：162)O-landidn'tcomplaintheunfairofthesocietyjusttochosetobindherdaughter'feet.Whenthesewordssaidoutfromherdaughter’smouth,theeffortsofO-lan’sgrievancearedeeplyexistedinWangLung’smind.O-landidn’texpressherdissatisfactiondirectly,butsheputanattitudetowardsthefood-bootingbybindingherdaughter’sfeet.Inmyopinion,O-lan’spurposewasreached.Shewantedherdaughtertolivebetterinthepatriarchalsociety,soshetookeffortforthismatter.4.O-lansurvivingbyherwisdomandstrongness4.1O-lan’wisdomhidingbehindherdumbnessInspiteofO-lan’sdumbness，shewasawisewoman.Butherwisdomdidn'tgobeyondawomanasabigmansion'smaidandasurvivorofafamine．Herwisdomwashidingbehindhersilentsurface.Whenthevitalpointoflifecomes,sheshowedhercleveranddecisivemindasthesilentearthcouchedtheseedsandbreedsallkindsoflivesintheworld．SeveralscenesdescribedinthenovelindicatetheconnotativevitalityinsideO-lan.Forexample，whenWangLungwonderedhowtokeeptheirsilverdollarssave，O-1an’sreactionwas:cleverlydugasmallholeintheinnerwalloftheirroombehindthebedandintothisWangLungthrustthesilverandwinaclodofearthshecoveredthehole，anditwasasthoughthereWasnothingthere．(ibid．46)ThiskindofmethodtohidethemoneycamefromO-lan'sexperiencewhenshehadbeenamaidoftherichmansion．TheirtreasureswerehiddenasO-lan'swayofhidingthemoney,andtheechoingscenariowasarrangedwhenshefollowedthegangtoloottherich．AnotherscenewhichdisplayedherwisdomwassetafterO-lan'sreturnfromtheOldMistress'shouse．ItwastheseconddayoftheNewYear,shepredictedthedescendingofherpreviousmasterbyhersubtleobservation，shesaid：Ibelieve，ifoneshouldaskme，Thaitheyarefeelingapinchthisyearinthathouse…TheAncientMistressworethesamecoatthisaslastIhaveneveryearseenthishappenbefore．Andtheslaveshadnonewcoats…(ibid．51-52)Herpredictionwasrightandcametrueafterseveralyears．Andtherichhadtoselltheirrichlandtosustaintheirlives．ItshowedusakeenconservativeO-lan．WhenWangLungdeniedeatinghisox'sflesh,O-lancomfortedhim,saying：Anoxisbutanoxandthisonegrewold．Eat，fortherewillbeanotheronedayandfarbetterthanthisone．(ibid．76)O-1an'sattitudetowardtheoldoxwasmorerealisticthenherhusbandWangLung．Sheknewthathumanlifewassuperiortoallkindsoffeelings，eventhemoroseorsadness．Wehadtofirstsurvivethanmadeourcompassiontotheothers．Itindicatedherstrongvitality.Theplotalsocalledupherrigorousmomentswhenshewasinthedrasticshortage．WhenWangLung'sunclebroughtthreementoWangLung'shouseandtriedtopersuadehimtosellhislands，WangLungdeniedtheirrequirebutO-lanofferedthemtheirfurnituretogetsomemoneyfortheirleavingtotheSouth．Withoutthemoney，theycouldn'tbuytheticketsofthetrainandtheycouldn'tleavethecountrywhichwassufferingfromfamine．ItwasO-lan’switthatpreventedthemfromdyingofhungry.(ibid.92)AftertheygottothestrangeSouth，theydidn'tknowhowtofendfortheirliving.It'sO-1anwhohadtheexperienceofbeggingduringherchildhoodtaughtherkidsandtheoldmantobeginthestreet．Onlywiththegainfromtheirbeggingcouldtheyaffordtheotherday'srice．(Ibid.106-111)WhenWangLungwaslongingforgoingbacktotheNorthandpreparedtoselltheiryounggirlforthetravellingfee．O-lantwicepersuadedhimtowaitseveraldaysforshehadheardthenewsofrebellion．Theirjoiningtotherobberyoftherichintherebellionprovidedthemenoughmoneywithwhichtheygainedtheirlatterprosperity.(Ibid.137-140)AvividdelineationhighlightedO-lan'squickreactiontothechangeofthesituation．WhensomeonetoldWangLung'thegatesoftherichmanareopentous''，‘'Andesifbymagicofsomekind0-lanwasgone，creepingoutundertheman’sarmashespoke．”O(jiān)-lanknewtheearlierwasthebettertofindthetreasureoftherich．(ibid.143)AfterO-lanfollowedthelootersinthegreathouse，shefoundandsnatchedamassofjewelsbyherknowledgeofthecommonhidingplacesofthetreasureoftherich．(Ibid.155-156)Underherdumbeyesandface，O-lanhadherwittosupportherhusband，WangLung.Thewisdomcouldnotbefoundaccordingtoherfeatureandvoice．Ithidunderatimid，soft，andcalmface，justliketheenormouspossibilityhidundertheearth．4.2O-1an’sdiligenceandstrongnessIntheafternoonshetookahoeandabasketandwiththeseuponhershouldershewenttothemainroadleadingintotheeitwheremulesanddonkeysandhorsescarriedburdenstoandfro，andthereshepickedthedroppingsfromtheanimalsandcarriedithomeandpiledthemanureinthedooryardforfertilizerforthefields．Thesethingsshedidwithoutawordandwithoutbeingcommandedtodothem．Andwhentheendofthedaycameshedidnotrestherselfuntiltheoxhadbeenfedinthekitchenanduntilshehaddippedwatertoholdtoitsmuzzletoletitdrinkwhatitwould．(ibid.29)Dayafterdayshedidonethingafteranother,untilthethreeroomsseemedcleanandalmostprosperous...(ibid.29)Onedayhershadowfellacrossthefurrowoverwhichhebenthimself,andthereshestood，withahoeacrosshershoulder．‘Thereisnothinginthehouseuntilsaidwithoutshetookthefurrowtothenightfall,shesaidbriefly,andwithoutspeechshetookthefurrowleftofhimandfellintosteadyhoeing．’(ibid．30)FollowingO-lanwhocamehomefirstforpreparingherbirth，WangLungwenthomeand:Whenhereachedthehouse,hefoundhissupperhotonthetableandtheoldmaneating.Shehadstoppedinherlabortopreparethemfood!Hesaidtohimselfthatshewasawomansuchasisnotcommonlyfound.(ibid.37)ButWangLungstoodlisteningatthedoortothoseheavyanimalpants．Asmellofhotbloodcamethroughthecrack，asickeningsmellthatfrightenedhim．Thepantingofthewomanwithinbecamequickandloud,likewhisperedscreams，butshemadenosoundaloud．Whenhecouldbearnomoreandwasabouttobreakintotheroom，athin,fiercecrycameoutandheforgoteverything．(ibid.38)O-lansufferedgreatpainbutdidnotcryout—shehadastrongcharacterandinvisibleenergywithin.AfterO-lanhadgivenbirthtoherfirstson,''almostbeforeonecouldrealizeanythingtheewomanwasbackinthefieldsbesideh