Pear Blossom Character Analysis

Wang Lung buys Pear Blossom as a young slave in a year of famine. His uncle’s son takes a liking to her when he comes to Wang Lung’s house with the soldiers, but Wang Lung protects her from him. Soon after, Wang Lung takes her into his rooms as a concubine, even though he feels he’s much too old for her. She insists that she likes old men. However, she also tells him that she hates men in general. The reason for this hatred remains unclear, but its vagueness allows her declaration to condemn all the actions of men towards women in this book, many of which are despicable. Pear Blossom acts as the comfort of Wang Lung’s old age and agrees to take care of the eldest daughter after his death.