O-Lan (character)

O-Lan is a character in Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth. She was a slave of a the House of Hwang and then married to Wang Lung. They start a family in their small country town, and endure grueling times, including droughts, floods, and war. Wang Lung and O-Lan work as hard as horses to ensure their family's survival. The family's persistence finally prevails, and the land eventually produces great riches.

O-Lan is a skilled cook because she worked in the kitchens as slave. When O-Lan first arrives at Wang Lung's house, she prepares a deliciously cooked meal. In response to Wang Lung's questions of her dexterity, she blandly replies, "I have been kitchen slave since I went into the House of Hwang. There were meats at every meal." Wang Lung received many compliments from his family and friends for O-Lan's dinner. She is familiar with the preparation many different kinds of food, such as corn cobs, meats, and other varied foods.

O-Lan is also an experienced beggar. This skill was used in a critical time. The family was forced to face many adversities during the drought. Wang-Lung and O-Lan reluctantly decided to move to a southern city to escape starvation. O-Lan used her childhood begging talents to assist the family in surviving the dilemmas of the city. She knew who to plead to, where to beg, and most importantly, taught the children to beg.

See also

• The Good Earth, a Pulitzer Prize winner novel by Pearl S. Buck
• Wang Lung

References