CONCUBINAGE IN CHINESE CULTURE AS SEEN IN PEARL S BUCK’S NOVEL THE GOOD EARTH A Thesis

  

CONCUBINAGE IN CHINESE CULTURE

AS SEEN IN PEARL S BUCK’S NOVEL

THE GOOD EARTH

  

A Thesis

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  

JIZANIWATI

STUDENT NUMBER: 981214094

ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTEMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

  

2004

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page PAGE OF TITLE …………………………………………………………… i PAGE OF APPROVAL …………………………………………………….. ii PAGE OF BOARD EXAMINERS ………………………………………….. iii STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY …………………………….. iv PAGES OF DEDICATION …………………………………………………. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………… vi TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………… vii ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………….. x

  ABSTRAK …………………………………………………………………… xi

  CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

  1.1 Background of the Study …………………………………….…… 1

  1.2 Objective of the Study ……………………………………………. 4

  1.3 Problem Formulation ……………………………………………… 4

  1.4 Benefit of the Study ………………………………………………. 4

  1.5 Definition of Terms ………………………………………………. 5

  CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

  2.1 Theoretical Review ……………………………………………… 7

  2.1.1 Theory of Critical Approaches in Literary Works ………… 7

  2.1.2 The Theories of Motivation ……………………………… 9 2.1.3 Human Personality ……………………………………….

  11 2.2 The Chinese Culture ……………………………………………..

  13

  2.2.2 The Chinese Family Life …………………………………..

  4.1.2.5 Wang Lung’s Uncle ………………………………… 38

  5.2.1 Suggestions for Future Researchers ………………………. 55

  5.2 Suggestions ……………………………………………………….. 55

  5.1 Conclusions ………………………………………………………. 51

  4.4 Wang Lung’s Motivation as the Main Character in Practicing Concubinage ………………………………………. 46 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

  42

  th Century …………………..

  and the Early 20

  th

  4.3 The Chinese Society’s toward Concubinage between the End of the 19

  4.2.2 The Setting of Place ………………………………………. 41

  4.2.1 The Setting of Time ……………………………………….. 39

  4.2 The Analysis of the Setting ……………………………………….. 39

  4.1.2.4 Wang Lung’s Father ………………………………. 37

  15

  4.1.2.3 Pear Blossom ………………………………………. 36

  4.1.2.2 Lotus ………………………………………………. 35

  4.1.2.1 O-Lan ………………………………………………. 33

  33

  4.1.2 The Secondary Characters …………………………………

  23

  4.1.1 The Main Character (Wang Lung) …………………………

  4.1 The Analysis of the Characters ……………………………………. 23

  21 CHAPTER 4: THE ANALYSIS

  20 3.3 Procedure …………………………………………………………..

  20 3.2 Approaches ………………………………………………………..

  CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Subject Matter ……………………………………………………..

  2.3 Criticism on the Novel and the Author …………………………… 17

  5.2.2 Suggestions for English Teachers ………………………… 56 through The Good Earth …………………………… 57

  5.2.2.2 Teaching Speaking through The Good Earth ……… 59 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………….

  62 APPENDICES Appendix 1. The Summary of The Good Earth ………………………

  64 Appendix 2. The Works of Pearl S. Buck …………………………… 70 Appendix 3. The Life of Pearl S. Buck ………………………………. 72 Appendix 4. Teaching Material ………………………………………. 75

  

ABSTRACT

  Jizaniwati. 2004. Concubinage in Chinese Culture as Seen in Pearl S. Buck’ s

  

Novel The Good Earth. Yogyakarta: English Study Program, Sanata Dharma

University.

  This study discusses The Good Earth, a novel written by Pearl S. Buck. In this novel, Pearl S. Buck talks about Chinese social lives. There are two problem formulations in this study, (1) How is concubinage viewed in Chinese society between the end of the ninetieth century and the early twentieth century as depicted in the novel, (2) What factors motivate Wang Lung as the Main character in practicing concubinage. The aims of the study can be achieved by finding out the characterization of the characters, the Chinese society’s view toward concubinage between the end of ninetieth century and the early twentieth century as depicted in the novel, and the main character’s motivation in practicing concubinage.

  There are two kinds of sources used in the study. The primary source, which is obtained from the novel The Good Earth, and the secondary sources are obtained from some books on psychology, some books on literature concerning the sociocultural lives in China, especially between the end of the ninetieth century and the early twentieth century. The writer uses the theory of motivation and human personality to conduct this study. To gain the information about Chinese social lives, the writer uses the sociocultural historical approach and psychological approach.

  Based on the analysis by answering the problem formulations, the writer draws three conclusion. First, as the answer of the first problem formulation that most of the characters in the novel support their society’s view toward concubinage. They said that it was all right to a concubine(s) since they were able to fulfill all their needs.

  Secondly, concubinage was one of many symbols of wealthy. It was known that at that time, men were more dominant than women. They tend to do everything they want includes practicing concubinage. Regardless his first wife, they hold a concubine(s) which mostly for sexual pleasure. Women, as the matter of fact, have no right to forbid his husband in holding a concubine(s).

  Third, by answering the third problem formulation, the writer concludes that Wang Lung as the main character supports the Chinese society’s view that it is all right to hold a concubine or more, as long as he can feed and fulfill all their needs. Wang Lung practices concubinage not only for sexual pleasure but also for his own pride.

  

ABSTRAK

  Jizaniwati.2004. Concubinage in Chinese Culture as Seen in Pearl S. Buck’s

  

Novel The Good Earth. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas

Sanata Dharma.

  Studi ini membahas The Good Earth, sebuah novel karya Pearl S. Buck. Dalam novel ini, Pearl S. Buck membahas tentang kehidupan sosial orang – orang Cina. Dalam studi ini ada dua rumusan masalah, (1) Bagaimana perseliran dilihat dfalam kehidupan sosial Cina antara akhir abad ke-19 dan awal abad ke-20, (2) Faktor apa yang mendorong Wang Lung sebagai tokoh utama dalam mempraktikan perseliran. Tujuan dari studi ini dapat dicapai dengan mengetahui bagaimana karakterisasi tokoh – tokoh dalam novel tersebut, pandangan masyarakat Cina terhadap perseliran antara akhir abad kesembilan belas dan awal abad kedua puluh seperti yang tergambar dalam novel, dan motivasi tokoh utama dalam mempraktikan perseliran.

  Ada dua macam sumber yang digunakan dalam studi ini, yaitu sumber utama yang didapat dari novel itu sendiri, The Good Earth, dan sumber – sumber pendukung yakni beberapa buku tentang tulisan – tulisan yang yang berhubungan dengan kehidupan sosial budaya masyarakat Cina antara akhir abad kesembilan belas dan awal abad kedua puluh dan buku – buku tentang psikologi. Penulis menggunakan teori motivasi dan teori kepribadian (watak) manusia dalam pelaksanaan studi ini. Untuk mendapatkan informasi – informasi tentang kehidupan sosial orang – orang Cina, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosiokultural-historis dan pendekatan psikologi.

  Berdasarkan analisis, penulis menarik tiga kasimpulan. Pertama, dengan menjawab rumusan masalah yang pertama, penulis menyimpulkan bahwa kebanyakan tokoh dalam novel ini merupakan pencerminan dari masyarakat Cina antara akhir abad kesembilan belas dan awal abad kedua puluh yang mendukung pandangan masyarakat terhadap perseliran.

  Kedua, perseliran merupakan salah satu dari beberapa simbol dari kekayaan. Hal ini sudah dikenal bahwa pada saat itu, laki – laki lebih dominan daripada perempuan. Mereka cenderung melakukan apa saja yang mereka inginkan termasuk mempraktikan perseliran. Tanpa mengindahkan istri pertamanya, kebanyakan dari mereka mengambil seorang selir atau lebih hanya untuk kepuasan seksual saja. Perempuan, pada kenyataannya, tidak punya hak untuk melarang suaminya dalam mengambil seorang selir atau lebih.

  Ketiga, dengan menjawab rumusan masalah yang kedua, penulis menyimpulkan bahwa Wang Lung, sebagai tokoh utama dalam novel ini, mendukung pandangan masyarakat Cina bahwa mempunyai seorang selir atau lebih bukan merupakan suatu kesalahan, selama kita mampu membiayai semua kebutuhan hidupnya. Wang Lung, mempraktikan perseliran bukan hanya untuk kepuasan seksual semata, tapi juga untuk harga dirinya.

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This chapter consists of the Background of the Study, the Objectives of the Study, the Problem Formulation, the Benefit of the Study and the Definition of Terms. The Background of the Study is focused on the study, the need of

  analyzing the topic and my personal reason of choosing the topic. The Objectives of the Study explain the goal of the study. Then the Problem Formulation gives the general description of the problem that will be analyzed. The Benefit of the Study gives the explanation of who can get the benefit from the study. The last

  part is the Definition of Terms. In this part, some terms that are related to the study will be defined.

  1. 1 Background of the Study

  Nowadays, we can find a lot of literary works, such as poems, prose, novels, and drama. We can learn and get many things from them. As Moody (1971:71) states:

  Literature present the readers with a wide range of situations and predicaments, which seem to stimulate some kind of emotional response; and also that, on the whole, the writers of literature present those situations in ways which enable the readers to explore and develop their feelings in an appropriate human way. I may say that reading literary works does not only give us enjoyments and pleasures. They also give us understanding and awareness about our lives. So, it can help us in understanding the human problems, such as sadness, anger, disappointments, and difficulties. Many literary works can be considered as good subjects. They can be judged through its content or meaning toward human life. It means that there must be some values in literary works, regardless of the fact that they are high or low value.

  In this thesis I choose a novel, written by Pearl S Buck, The Good Earth , to be analyzed. This is her second novel. This novel won The Pulitzer Prize in 1932. This is dramatized in that year. This novel is a best seller for almost two years, and translated into over thirty languages. Buck wrote this novel on her way together with her family to North China which was used for the setting of this novel. I choose The Good Earth because it is very interesting. This novel talks about peasant’s lives. From the title itself, we can see that the story probably talks about something related to earth.

  Besides, I am interested in her ways of telling the readers about Chinese cultures and their daily lives. In her novel, she tells us clearly about Chinese cultures and their daily lives such as their belief in Gods and Goddesses, foot binding, concubinage, and slavery. To be more particular, in this study I will discuss concubinage, as it is a very common issue in China which happened at the

  th th

  time when the story happens, between the last of 19 century and the early of 20 century.

  As written in the novel, men tend to have a concubine or concubines. Not only for those who are superior in status but also who are in the middle class practice concubinage. Only for those who are in the lower class do not practice concubinage. It is all because they do not enough money even for eat although actually they also want to. We can see it from the characters in the novel, The Master in the House of Hwang and Wang Lung. As the story tells, The Master of the House of Hwang has a lot of concubines and it is not strange for people around there. It is very common to take concubines as long as we have enough money or authority. It seems that at that time concubinage is a reflection of the inherent inferiority of woman to men. Another character is Wang Lung. When he was in the lower class, he used to have only a wife, O Lan. He never thought of having even a concubine. However, as the time goes by, he becomes richer and richer. He starts to do what people in the high class do usually, included having concubines although he never imagines that before. Those are examples of phenomenon of having concubines which can be seen from the novel. Hopefully, it can help the reader in understanding the topic which will be discussed.

  As Hsu (1948: 65-67) states in his study on Chinese families, the origin for a male to hold a concubine or concubines are for sexual pleasure since any children that resulted from a concubine is considered illegitimate. Unless allowed by their father, they have no right of inheritance. Usually a concubine or concubines have a lower status than a wife in a household. This phenomenon of having concubine or concubines is affected by the fact in China that women have the lowest places in the family and community. It is quite common for the poor to sell a daughter to a rich man to be a concubine, to get money to take care of the rest of the family. There are also many women who are forced into being a concubine simply because the rich man likes the way they looked. The desire to possess a concubine or concubines pervades Chinese society as they were symbols of status and prosperity (1948: 65-67).

  1. 2 Objectives of the Study

  This study is conducted to help the readers who want to know more about the cultural values of the Chinese as viewed in the novel which happened between

  th th

  the 19 century and the early 20 century. Here, I will explore the analysis of the Chinese culture’s view toward concubinage in that age. I will also describe the main character’s (Wang Lung) motivation in practicing concubinage.

  1. 3 Problem Formulation

  Based on the background above, the problems of this study are formulated as follows :

  1. How is concubinage viewed in Chinese society between the end of ninetieth century and the early twentieth century as depicted in the novel ?

  2. What factors motivate Wang Lung as the main character in practicing concubinage ?

  1. 4 Benefit of the Study

  This study is aimed to enrich the knowledge of literary study and gives more reference to analyze Buck’s novel. I also hope this study will give a useful contribution and input toward other researchers who want to conduct a study on Buck’s novel, since this study talks about or reveals her idea or perspective toward Chinese culture, particularly, concubinage. It is commonly known that Buck’s works are mostly related to Chinese culture such as her novels The Mother, Pavilion of Woman, and East Wind West Wind.

  Through this study, I would like to help the reader to learn something valuable toward their life from the messages in the novel since there are a lot of social problems appeal in this life.

  1. 5 Definition of Terms

  To assist the readers to follow this thesis clearly, I would like to define some definitions as follows : a. Concubine

  As Webster (1993: 31) states, concubine is meant as a person whom a man cohabits without being married. It can be meant as secondary wife. It has a lower status than a wife in a household. In this study, I will discuss Wang Lung’s concubines, they are Pear Blossom and Lotus. As I know that it is a common thing of taking a concubine (s) in

  th

  China at the time when the story happened, between the late of 19

  th century and the early of 20 century.

  b. Concubinage Summers (1995: 42) states concubinage is defined as a practice of living together as a husband and wife without being married legally.

  Wang Lung, as other Chinese men do, also takes concubines. Here, I talk about his motivation in practicing concubinage. c. Culture Summers (1997: 50) states that culture means all the products of human work and thought made by particular group of people at a particular time. It includes behavior pattern, arts, beliefs, and institution. The term that will be discussed later is about Chinese culture concerning the habits or behavior, that is concubinage.

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter consists of three parts. The first is the Theoretical Review

  which consists of some theories used in analyzing the novel. The second part is the Chinese Cultures. In this part, I explore the Chinese culture includes the Chinese community and the Chinese family life. Then in the last part I will discuss the criticism toward Pearl S. Buck and her novel.

2.1 Theoretical Review

2.1.1 Theory of Critical Approaches in Literary Works

  According to Rohberger and Woods (1987: 3), a critical approach to literature necessities an understanding of its function, values, and nature. Here, the readers must know what literature is, how to read it, and finally how to judge it. Rohberger and Woods in their book, Reading and Writing About Literature (1987:6-15), state that there are five critical approaches in literature works.

  The first is the formalist approach. This critics insists on the total integrity of the literary piece. It concentrates almost on its esthetics value, so they are concern with demonstrating the harmonious involvement of all parts of the novel and also with pointing out how meaning is derived from structures and how matters of technique determines structure.

  The second is the biographical approach. The proponents of the the author to an understanding of the literary object (1987:8). This approach gives us awareness that what the author writes in their work of art is a reflection of their personality. The readers try to learn as much as they can about the life and development of the author and to apply this knowledge in understanding the author’s work. What the author thinks and feels can be reflected through the literary work.

  The third approach is the sociocultural – historical approach. According to Rohberger and Woods, the social historical approach insists that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produce it (1987: 9).

  Here, they define civilization as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter. It means that the literary works is created in the society. There is a possibility that different societies and different cultures can produce different types of literary works.

  The next approach is the mythopoeic approach. Rohgberger and Woods state that this approach seeks to discover a certain universally recurrent pattern of human thought, which they believe will find an expression in significant works of art (1948: 11). These universally recurrent patterns are those that found the first expression in the ancient myths and folks rites. They are so basic to human thought that they have meaning for all men.

  The last approach is the psychological approach. This approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent pattern (1948: 13). It the psychological theory. This approach is usually used to account briefly for the misunderstanding of psychological criticism, to outline the psychological theory which is used commonly as an interpretive tool by modern critics, also to show the reader how to apply this approach to enhance their understanding.

2.1.2 The Theories of Motivation

  According to Kalish (1972: 29), a motivation behavior is a behavior set into motion by a need. From this statement we may say that a need indicates that some types of satisfaction is lacking and implies that the organism is activated to reduce the dissatisfaction. The need for money means that the person feels he lacks of money and it sets into motion to seek money. It also happens in the needs of affection, and prestige.

  Richard, Elisabeth and Robert (1985: 54) state that: To understand the way a person’s behavior is organized, we must infer that behavior is guided by some purpose and that it leads to some end state, which may be a goal or the satisfaction of some need. This dynamic property of behavior that gives it organization over time and that defines its end states is called motivation. From that statement, we may say that motivation comes from within ourselves. It is related to the purpose of the thing or behavior that we are going to do. In doing something, we are usually motivated by something. For example, we decide to apply a vacancy in a newspaper because we are motivated to get money.

  There are also two theories that are related to motivation, they are homeostatis theory and social learning theory. The first one is the homeostatis disequilibrium within human. This theory is based on the needs, which occur within humans. People usually do something because they need it. If they do not really need it, they tend to do it unseriously. For example, if we are really hungry, we try to get some food to make us full. So, what people do or behave reflect their needs.

  Learning about human’s need, there are some theory of needs that can determine human’s motivation according to Maslow:

  1.Psychological Need They are biological needs such as water, food, oxygen, warmth, etc. These needs are the strongest because if deprived, one could or would die.

  2.Safety Need They are felt by adult during emergencies, periods of disorganization in the social structure. They are felt more frequently by children who often display signs of insecurity and their need to be safe.

  3. Love, Affection and Belonging Needs The needs to escape loneliness and gives (also receive) love, affection, and the sense of belonging.

  4. Esteem Need They are the need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others in order to feel satisfied, self confident and valuable. If these needs are not met, the person feels inferior, weak, and helpless.

  5. Self-actualization Need Maslow describes this need as an ongoing process. Self-actualizing people are involved in a cause outside their own skin. They are devoted, work at something, something very precious to themaslow. htm, accesed on March 22,2003 at 9.00pm).

  The second one is the social learning theory. Atkinson and Hilgard (1983: 320) state that our behavior is learned through interaction with and observation of the environment. The important part that influences our behavior is the environment or circumstance we live rather than instinct. Furthermore they also say, vicarious learning is learning by observation. The patterns of behavior are learned by observing the other people’s behavior and also by learning the reinforcement. For example, a child will be afraid to go to a doctor because he or she watched a person suffering from pain after being injected by the doctor.

2.1.3 Human Personality

  Human personalities concern with one does, thinks, and feels about everything related to their attitudes in everyday life. Every individual has his or her own personality. The uniqueness of personality makes an individual differ from each other. Byrne and Kelley (1981:87) consider one’s personality as a dynamic process so it can change throughout one’s life. So, personality is changeable, meaning that it changes hand in hand with the running of time.

  Hurlock (1974: 19) claims that an individual’s personality pattern is the within or outside his home. So, the condition of the environment also determines human personality. Sullivian (1981:64), an American psychiatrist, views personality as a verbal abstraction and believes that human behavior is determined largely by interpersonal interactions. This means that individual will learn to behave as a result of interactions with people. What people do sometimes affected by others. Although we are actually a silent one, but we always get along with talk active people, it is a big possibility that we can be a talk active one. We may learn how to be talk active from the interaction we make.

  Further, Sullivian (1963: 138-141) proposes three aspects of personality. The first one is a dynamism. Dynamism provides some stabilities of behavior from one situation to the next. It is about the same thing as habits (1963: 138).

  What do people usually and how do people usually act toward others in the form of feeling, attitudes, or overt action are dynamism. The second aspect is a personification. It is an image that an individual has of himself or of another person and it is a complex of feelings, attitudes, and conceptions that grows out of experiences with need-satisfaction and anxiety (1963: 139). It means that if a person is associated with positive experiences, one’s personification of that person will be favorable. However, if a person is associated with anxiety, one’s personification will be negative. The last aspect is a cognitive process. Sullivan’s contribution regarding the role of cognition in personality, gives him awareness that there are three modes of experience, they are prototaxic, parataxic, and from during the early months of live. It is the raw images and feeling that flow through one’s mind posses no meaning for the experiencing person (1963: 1940).

  While parataxic mode of thinking consists of seeing causal relationship between events that occur at about the same time but which are not logically related. The experiences and images may be unrealistic but the meaning is very real to the individual. The last mode is syntaxic modes. It is reached when one learns to perceive as others do and to share their beliefs, language and explanation. This mode produces logical order among experiences and enables people to communicate with one another (1963: 141).

2.1.4. The Theory of Setting.

  The element of fiction which reveal to us the where and when of the events called setting (Kenney, 1966: 38). Setting is always important for the work of a novel, since it helps to set the tone and helps to realize both characters and plot (Beaty and Hunter, 1989: 111). According to Abrams (1979: 157) defines setting as the general locale, historical time and social circumstances in which its action occurs:; the setting of an episode or scene within a work is particular physical location in which it takes place. It is also important in affecting action and characters as Murphy writes and way of thinking of the characters (1972: 41).

  Kenney (1966: 40-44) states several functions of setting. The first function is the function of setting as metaphor. For that function, he explains that in objectification of the internal states of the character’s or of the persuasive spiritual condition.

  Second, the use of setting to create atmosphere. Atmosphere is described as the air breathed by the reader when he enters the world of the story. The setting suggests a kind of mood or emotional aura and it helps to establish the reader expectation.

  The last function is the use of setting as the dominant element. There are two kinds of dominant element, time and place. Time as dominant element means the time in the story takes the most important part as Kenney writes the time in which the action occurs is of the highest importance. Place as dominant element meanss that it is the place which takes the greatest importance most the story. As Kenney writes the place in which the action occurs is of the highest importance.

  The geographical setting has a great influence to the character.

2.2 The Chinese Culture

2.2.1 Chinese Community

  Hsu in his book Under The Ancestor’s Shadow (1948:30) writes that the life in Chinese community is full of rituals. Starting from their birthday until their death, Chinese people have to obey the ritual and tradition in their religion properly. To be more particular, here I will discuss some custom especially which are related to marriage and concubinage.

  1. Marriage and Betrothal Usually the betrothal is held before the marriage and take place. It can be young betrothed couple. The parents tend to betroth their children to those whose backgrounds are already known well. They hope that their children will get a good mate. Usually the man’s family is very selective in choosing the mate, because there are some kinds of marital tradition that have to be obeyed, such as there are only two marriage are permitted between two clans, then the mate must not from the same clan.

  2. An Ideal Marriage It is called an ideal marriage if both of the families are already known each other well. If the marriage happens between two families which do not know each other, they need a go-between to arrange the matters. The go-between usually a woman (sometimes a man) who knows about both of the families. She must carry the proposal to the girl’s family and ask for the girl and the boy about all the things needed, such as the year, month, and date of their birth. Based on the conclusion taken, she will decide whether the boy and the girl are suited to each other.

  3. Remarriage In Chinese community, there is rarely found a single old spinster or bachelor. A widower is suggested to remarry. Most of them marry widows but there is no social objection if they want to marry a virgin girl. The second marriage for a man to a virgin girl involves just as much of a wedding ceremony as did his first marriage. A woman in her second marriage is a dishonored object. It was generally believed that if a woman had a son or even a daughter, she should

  4. Concubinage.

  Since in China a man has a bigger right or authority than a woman, it causes a lot of effects. One of them is that it is a common thing for a man to take concubine(s). Not only for those who are superior in status but also who are in the middle class do that. Only for those who are in the lower class do not do that. It is all because they do not have enough money even for food although they actually also want to do so. The origin for a male to hold a concubine is for sexual pleasure since any children that resulted from a concubine is considered illegitimate. Unless allowed by their father, they have no right of inheritance. Usually a concubine has a lower status than a wife in the household. This phenomenon of having a concubine(s) is affected by the fact in China that women have the lowest places in the family. It is quite common for the poor to sell a daughter to a rich man to be a concubine to get money to take care of the rest of the family.

2.2.2. The Chinese Family Life

  China, as one of the oldest countries in the world, has been ruled over by many dynasties that fall and rise one to another for millennia as other nations do.

  However, the most interesting fact that is found by Francis L K Hsu his study on Chinese families. It was funny fact that the Chinese families do just the same as their rulers do.

  There are several basic features observed in a Chinese families. First of all is the old parents live in the wing of the occupied by the eldest son, which usually the west wing. Secondly, in the normal cause of events, some rooms seem to be for children and married couples, the two sexes are generally separated. Fourth, the members of each individual family within the household usually occupy rooms in same wing or in two wings adjacent to each other. The characteristic of the dwellings shows that the division of rooms for each family is determined by rules of social appropriateness, not by considerations of personal preference, comfort or hygiene ( Hsu, 1948:56-57).

  The usual contains in a Chinese family are usually more than just parents and children. Chinese people like to group their clan in one place as possible as it is and it is a sin to abandon their olds. So, a house may contain of some families living together under the same roof. A wealthy family with long lineage of generations maybe has a clan village to keep their land in the hands of the same bloodline forever.

  The most important relationship is father and son relationship. The father has authority of life and death over the son, and the son has revere and support his parents as long as their life and (even) after their death. A father or a mother can command his son everything he wants them to do. Then, as a filial and dutiful son, the son (and daughters) must obey him / her. When the father dies, the mother will take the responsibility of the household and the rights over her children as well as the new head of the family.

  Although it looks like a tyrannical world for the sons, we cannot judge it is so. The father has great authority is marked on the fact that actually the father and the son are part of each other. The son must be obliged to place and support his lets them hungry, will have no respectable place in eyes of society. The relationship is much better described by the literary saying: The father is kind toward his son, and the son filial toward his father (Hsu, 1948: 65)

  A man will have their right and place in society as soon as the change of his role from a son to a father, especially, of course, a son’s father. When this time comes, the father should hand the family business upon his eldest son s the next head of the family. This father and son relationship is considered as the basic relationship in a Chinese family as the other relationship only became the supplement.

  The relationship between husband and wife is only a supplement to the father and son relationship above. A marriage is made in the name of the parents taking a daughter-in-law, not in the name of a son taking a wife (Hsu, 1948:59). Some expressions of erotic life between husband and wife are sociably banished in front of public. The new wives usually only sleep together in one bed for seven days after their marriage and then they will sleep in the different beds or even in the different rooms.

2.3. Criticism on the Novel and the Author

  This part talks about what some critics say or write about Pearl S Buck and her work, The Good Earth. This novel is probably Pearl S Buck’s most popular and widely read novel. It is because of a lot of reasons. First, in her former published novels, Buck wrote very little about a simple Chinese life. Chinese life in this novel. Second, the theme of The Good Earth is uncomplicated, and people like to read novels with no complicated literary techniques and theme.

  Third, this novel gives a universal appeal in describing a man’s struggle for survival, success and happiness. Magill (1989: 336) says: Buck’s feeling for the fundamental truths of life transcended any preconceived notions that the reading public may have had about China, and portrayed her people as understandable human beings who struggled for happiness and success like anyone else. I agree with what Magill says. In this novel, in detail Buck describes Chinese characters. She writes about what she knows best. Even though she is not from China.

  Another criticism comes from Stuckey (1966: 92-93): The Good Earth is sentimental and rather too pathly idealistic, as childishly simple book in which good and evil are neatly labeled. Whatever is gained in smoothness and uniformity is lot by the author’s inability to make real to dramatize thought and feeling.

  I believe what Stuckey states is not that simple. Most characters in The Good

  

Earth is differ from others, both good and bad. Sometimes the major character

  who is considered to be a good person behaves like “evil”, and the secondary characters who are usually considered to be bad persons behave correctly. These different behaviors show the behaviors of a human being in a real life.

  The accuracy of the socio-cultural life of China makes her a propagandist. Cowley (1977:31) writes that Buck gains a great success in changing people’s thought, especially people of the West hemisphere, about China. In the early twentieth century people regarded China as a vast, vague region lying somewhere

  She has extraordinary gift for presenting the Chinese not as quaint and illogical, yellow skinned, exotic devil-dolls, but as human being merely, animated by motives we can always understand even when the background is strange.

  Cowley writes his statement above from his deep criticism of The Good Earth in The Good Earthling.

  Besides being a propagandist, Buck is also famous for being a preacher. Thompson observers that Buck uses her novels as a vehicle for her preachment. In most of her novels she does not judge or state what the best thing to do is. She usually presents examples of the goodness and the badness.

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY This chapter will be divided into three parts. The first one is the Subject Matter. Here, I will talk about the novel that will be analyzed. The second is the Critical Approach. In this part, I will discuss the approaches that are used and

  significant in analyzing the novel. The last part is the Procedure. Here I will explain the steps in doing the analysis.

  3.1 Subject Matter

  In this study, I analyze Pearl S. Buck’s novel, The Good Earth. The novel was published in 1931 by John Day Company. It is the first edition. The novel consists of 339 pages.

  This novel centers on the Chinese customs and cultures such as foot- binding, slavery, the belief toward gods and goddesses, and concubinage.

  Particularly, in this study I would like to analyze the main character’s (Wang Lung) motivation in taking concubines. I also would like to analyze how

  th

  concubinage is viewed by the Chinese society at the time between the last of 19

  th century and the early of the 20 century as depicted in the novel.

  3.2 Approach

  In this study, I apply the sociocultural – historical approach and the approach is suitable for my study. It is significant for me to know the background of the culture where the novel was created. It is also important to find out what kind of tradition of the characters. I also need to understand the condition of the place and time when the story happens.

  The psychological approach is adopted to analyze the factors which motivate Wang Lung in taking some concubines. So, it is important for me to know his psychological condition. As I know that motivation has a big relation toward the psychology of a person because it appears inside the psychology of the human.

3.3 Procedure.

  The method of the study which was used for collecting data was library research. I referred to some books that were related to the novel and the topic of the study, concubinage. The data was divided into two classes, the primary data (the novel) and the secondary data (some books which could be utilized to support this study or which are related to the problems). I carried out some steps in doing this study. The first step was reading the novel. Then, the next step was to find out the information related to the problem formulation that will be analyzed. The third step was to look for some books on literature. The fourth step was to analyze the novel which focused on concubinage by using the sosiocultural-historical approach and the psychological approach. Then the fifth step is to look for and to read some books related to the approach used. The next step was to find out some Finally, the last step was to find out how is concubinage viewed by Chinese values as revealed in the novel and also to find out the factors which motivate Wang Lung in practicing concubinage.

CHAPTER 4 THE ANALYSIS This chapter will be divided into four parts. Firstly, I will discuss the

  characters in the novel. I will discuss the main character and the secondary characters. Secondly, I will talk about the setting which consists of the time and the place of the story. Thirdly, in this study I will reveal how concubinage viewed in Chinese society at the time when the story happens. Then, in the last part, I will explore the factors which motivate Wang Lung in practicing concubinage.

  4 .1 The Analysis of the characters

  In this part, I will discuss the major character and the secondary characters. The major character is Wang Lung. Then the secondary characters are O-Lan, Lotus, Pear Blossom, Wang Lung’s father, and Wang Lung’s uncle. In this analysis, there will be some quotations from the novel to support analysis of those characters.

  4.1.1 The main character (Wang Lung).

  At the beginning of the story Wang Lung is a poor man. He cannot afford a wedding with an ordinary girl but a slave. This fact can be seen from this quotation from the novel: But when he had said to his father, “Am I never to have a woman?”.

  His father replied,” With wedding costing as they do in this evil days and every woman wanting gold rings and silk clothes before they will