Patriarchal Oppression in Pearl S Buck’s Novel The Good Earth.

Abstract

The story of American literature begins in the early 1600’s, long before there were any “Americans”. American literature blossomed with the skillful and brilliant writer during 1900s. Pearl S Buck was born to the family of Presbyterian missionary in 1892 in West Virginia. Being a successful writer in nineteenth century, she published various novels and she was the first female laureate in America and fourth woman writer to receive Nobel Prize in Literature. Oppression is an element that is common in patriarchal society where the women are always subjugated by the men in the family. This paper is to depict the men’s oppression in the novel through the character Wang Lang and how the female character O-Lan is surviving from all the struggles that she faces from her own family members.
 Literature always anticipates life. It does not copy it, but moulds it to its purpose. Literature is the reflection of mind. It is the great creative and universal means of communicating to the humankind. This creativity shows the difference between the writers and the people who simply write their views, ideas and thoughts.
 American literature began with the discovery of America. American literature begins with the orally transmitted myths, legends, tales and lyrics of Indian cultures. Native American oral literature is quite diverse. The story of American literature begins in the early 1600’s, long before there were any “Americans”. The earliest writers were Englishmen describing the English exploration and colonization of the New World.