The youngest son Character Analysis in The Good Earth

Wang Lung intends for his youngest son to work on the land after him. As this son remains quiet and sullen, Wang Lung doesn’t notice for a long time that he doesn’t actually want to work on the land. Instead, the youngest son wants to go to school as his older brothers did. Wang Lung eventually allows him this. Later, however, the son announces his intentions to become a soldier, and Wang Lung puts his foot down, forcing the youngest son to run away to the army. This son is handsome but intense, and he refuses to be distracted by women.

The youngest son Character Timeline in The Good Earth

The timeline below shows where the character The youngest son appears in The Good Earth. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...discovers him, and O-lan washes him and puts him to bed. Wang Lung questions the younger son as to where the older one was, but the boy doesn’t want to tell him,... (full context)

Wang Lung goes across his land with Ching, discussing the soil, and brings his youngest son to teach him about farming. He never notices that the boy seems unhappy. Wang Lung... (full context)

...a laborer’s family to take care of his uncle and uncle’s wife. He brings his youngest son and eldest daughter to live in the town and rarely returns to his house in... (full context)

The eldest son persists, saying that Wang Lung’s youngest son should be sent to school. Wang Lung had planned for him to farm the land... (full context)

Wang Lung sends for his youngest son . He sees that the boy is beautiful, but frowns frequently. His son confirms that... (full context)

...everything he meant to, and he can have peace as soon as he weds his youngest son . (full context)

Wang Lung’s youngest son has long been absorbed with his books, but when the soldiers were in the house,... (full context)

Wang Lung thinks that he has given his youngest son everything he could desire, but he decides he must need a wife or a slave.... (full context)

...see him there. Instead he wanders around the courts, avoiding Lotus. He realizes that his youngest son and Pear Blossom are about the same age, whereas he’s almost seventy. He tells himself... (full context)

The youngest son comes that evening when Pear Blossom is sitting with Wang Lung in the court. The... (full context)

...concubine, and often visits the tea shops. She also tells him that she’s heard his youngest son is a military official in the Revolution, but she doesn’t know what it is. Wang... (full context)

...says they’re busy, as the eldest son holds a position in the town and the younger son has his own grain market. Wang Lung doesn’t really understand. (full context)