Wang Lung’s uncle’s son Character Analysis in The Good Earth

Wang Lung’s nephew takes after his parents—he’s just as lazy and cruel as they are. He becomes a bad influence in Wang Lung’s house, leading Wang Lung’s eldest son to Yang, the whore in the great house, and getting him drunk. In part due to this experience, the eldest son comes to hate and deeply distrust his cousin. The uncle’s son lusts after the women in Wang Lung’s house and tries to molest Wang Lung’s second daughter. The eldest son can’t stand having his wife in the same house with his cousin, and he urges Wang Lung to move to town. Finally, the uncle’s son decides he wants to see a war, so he goes north, much to Wang Lung’s relief.

Wang Lung’s uncle’s son Character Timeline in The Good Earth

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

...and tells her that he’s thinking about how to find a respectable wife for his son. Lotus likes the eldest son now, and she tells Wang Lung about a man who... (full context)

One morning, the eldest son comes home drunk and sick. Wang Lung discovers him, and O-lan washes him and puts... (full context)

Wang Lung finds his uncle’s son in his uncle’s rooms, also drunk. He questions the young man, who at first refuses... (full context)

...tells him to come back later, but Wang Lung says he’s come about his eldest son. He describes him to her, and she remembers the boy and his cousin. Wang Lung... (full context)

...particularly courteous to his uncle’s family, even giving them extra money. He keeps his eldest son inside in the evenings, which makes the boy irritable. Wang Lung considers moving into the... (full context)

Liu agrees to the marriage of his daughter to Wang Lung’s eldest son, but wants to wait another three years, which worries Wang Lung. He tells O-lan they... (full context)

...so they begin to demand more and more. Wang Lung overhears his uncle’s wife and son urging the uncle to blackmail him for money, which angers Wang Lung, but he can’t... (full context)

Wang Lung’s eldest son keeps his wife shut up in their room away from his cousin, the uncle’s son,... (full context)

The eldest son is amazed and suggests that they push the uncle’s family into the water and drown... (full context)

Before long, Wang Lung’s uncle’s son begins to look at Wang Lung’s second daughter, who is very pretty. One night he... (full context)

One day the eldest son announces that his wife is pregnant. Wang Lung is joyful and has Ching buy good... (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)

When Wang Lung returns from the fields, his eldest son says he can’t bear to have his cousin in the house anymore. He doesn’t bring... (full context)

The eldest son suggests that they might move to town and leave the uncle’s family in the country.... (full context)

...Lung makes no decision yet, but he does notice the despicable actions of his uncle’s son. His uncle and his uncle’s wife have been weakened by the opium and no longer... (full context)

One day Wang Lung visits his second son at the grain market and asks what he thinks of the family moving to town.... (full context)

The second son requests not to marry a woman from town like his brother’s wife, who will make... (full context)

Wang Lung tells his eldest son to arrange to rent the house, and the family prepares to move. When they’re ready... (full context)

...tell that his uncle will die soon, and then he can throw out his uncle’s son. Wang Lung’s house is peaceful and he rests. Eventually he asks Ching to find a... (full context)

Wang Lung’s uncle’s son grows restless, and when he hears about a war in the north, he asks Wang... (full context)

One morning Wang Lung hears his eldest son’s wife in labor. He’s frightened of her screams, so he brings incense to a temple... (full context)

Finally, Lotus comes to tell him that he has a grandson. Wang Lung is joyful and laughs at his anxiety. He sits remembering O-lan giving birth... (full context)

Wang Lung’s eldest son throws a great feast to celebrate the birth of his son. Afterwards, he tells Wang... (full context)

...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)

...men say they’ll go to war, but war never seemed real. One day his second son tells him that the price of grain has gone up because a war is approaching.... (full context)

...expressions frighten Wang Lung, but just as he’s about to lock the gate his uncle’s son marches by and catches sight of him. He tells the other soldiers that Wang Lung... (full context)

Dismayed, Wang Lung and his eldest son bar the door of the inner court. The second son rushes in with news that... (full context)

They have to allow the uncle’s son into the inner courts because he’s family, however. He comes and admires the sons’ wives,... (full context)

Finally Wang Lung shows the uncle’s son to his mother’s room. He wakes the uncle’s wife by banging his gun on the... (full context)

The soldiers destroy the outer courtyards, but the family is most afraid of the uncle’s son, for he comes into the courts and looks lustfully at the slaves. Cuckoo says they... (full context)

...he’ll buy Lotus something to pacify her, and he sends Cuckoo to tell the uncle’s son that Pear Blossom has a terrible disease. One of the other slaves offers herself to... (full context)

The uncle’s son gets his slave pregnant before the troops are called away to the war. When he... (full context)

Wang Lung and his sons hire carpenters and masons to repair the courts where the soldiers were staying. Wang Lung... (full context)

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

However, his sons’ wives begin to quarrel with each other and scold each other’s children. They never forget... (full context)

Ever since Wang Lung protected Pear Blossom from his uncle’s son, Lotus has disliked her and accuses Wang Lung of lusting after her. Wang Lung thinks... (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)