The Good Earth - Response to the Uncle and City

Wang Lung, a hard-working farmer, is nothing like his sluggish, untidy uncle. For the uncle, begging people just to stay alive isn't anything new or to be ashamed of. For him, he'd rather beg than support his family himself, something he could do easily. This man has no sense of pride whatsoever and will stoop so low as to blackmail his nephew into giving him money. He will beg, black mail, anything except work so he doesn't have to make money himself.

Even though he has seen his uncle do it a passel of times, he still can't grasp the idea of begging. This causes a slight problem, because begging is exactly what he and his family need to do to support themselves in the city. All the people around them act normal as they complete this task, but Wang Lung's pride refrains his family from following the rest of the pack. He, unlike his uncle, would rather go through the pain of hard work, than beg.

The Good Earth Chapter 1

Nature -- something that controls everyone and everything on our planet -- plays a big part in the novel, The Good Earth. The title is an important symbol of this, portraying the fact that the earth is good and can be of much needed help. Nowadays, we don't think of nature as something that can make or break our jobs, but in the time of Wang Lung that was the way of life.

"Now it was as if Heaven had chosen this day to wish him well. Earth would bear fruit."(pg 2) This quote clearly states that Wang Lung relied on nature to give him water and good weather for his crops. Without it he would have no food, or fruit as the quote explains it. His religion also shows that without the help of nature, his life would be ruined. So many things they do revolve around the earth and nature, explaining that life in China back then is much different then it is in America now.

Castle

Walking around, this place is thousands of years old.
Corners of tapestries are starting to fold.
I think back, to a time when horses roamed,
And back then, many people did not have their hair combed.
Thinking, as I am walking, I realize,
There are many things that we cannot see with our eyes.
It's like a feeling, a picture in my mind,
That tells me things that happened, things that are hard to find,
Things not of this nature, not of this kind.

Door County

Way out in the canoe, on the water,
I see something beneath me that makes my eyelids flutter.
Down in the depths below, I see a fish.
I see it clearly, it makes me want to wish,
That I could stay here forever,
And that I would leave, never.
But the silence is broken with a yell,
That reminds me that I have to go home, just as well.
So I say my goodbyes to this place,
Even though it brings a frown to my face.

The Symbolism of Music in "A Jury of Her Peers"

To be able to sing is a freedom which Minnie Foster had at one point in her life. After marrying Mr. Wright, she lost this freedom and was ignored constantly, making her life sad and depressing."She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively -- when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir." (Pg. 27) Before she was married, she was free to sing and be happy, but after her wedding, there was no more music. Without music in one's life, there is no happiness, and this was how Minnie Foster lived for a passel of years. Finally, after a long, lonesome time, Minnie got herself a bird. The bird sang and brought happiness back into her life, Mr. Wright did not approve. He killed the bird and broke Minnie's heart. Then she realized that she needed to take charge and stand up for herself; she understood that she could not go on forever without the happiness that music brought her. Without music, there is silence and nobody should have to live a silent life.