“The Good Earth” (post 1) by Pearl S. Buck (post 2): Protagonist Wang Lung hears voice of an alternate personality, which comes out and briefly takes over

In China of the 1920s, the main characters are Wang Lung, a hard-working farmer, and O-lan, his hard-working wife.

In the first third of the novel, just as Wang Lung’s farm had begun to prosper, there is a severe drought. Wang Lung, O-lan, and their young children are faced with starvation. In desperation, they migrate to a distant, rich city (in China), where they are reduced to menial labor and begging.

But one day, the rich city is about to be invaded by an army. The war is a mystery to illiterate Wang Lung, since all he knows is farming. As the rich people flee the city ahead of the invading army, throngs of poor people, including Wang Lung, enter the abandoned homes of the rich to take what they can. Wang Lung comes upon a frightened, confused, rich man, who has been left behind.

In the following passage, Wang Lung hears a voice in his head (an alternate personality). The alternate personality then comes out and temporarily takes over. It speaks in a tone of voice, and says things, that Wang Lung’s regular personality never would.

“ ‘Save a life—save a life—do not kill me. I have money for you—much money—’ [the frightened, rich man, pleads].

“It was this word ‘money’ which suddenly brought to Wang Lung’s mind a piercing clarity. Money!…And it came to him clearly, as a voice speaking, ‘Money—the child saved [he would not have to sell his daughter]—the land!’

“He cried out suddenly in a harsh voice such as he did not himself know was in his breast, ‘Give me the money then!’…

“And again he cried out in that strange voice that was like another man’s, ‘Give me more!…[After getting the money, Wang Lung continues,] ‘Out of my sight, lest I kill you for a fat worm!’

“This Wang Lung cried, although he was a man so soft-hearted that he could not kill an ox” (1, pp. 136-137).

Comment

Their are two basic criteria for the diagnosis of multiple personality (a.k.a. dissociative identity): 1. two or more distinct personalities, 2. memory gaps. The above appears to fulfill the first criterion.

(A formal, clinical diagnosis would not be made until both criteria had been met, and until an alternate personality, engaged in conversation, had provided verifiable information.)

But why does this novel have symptoms of multiple personality that are not labeled as such, are probably not intended as such, and are probably not necessary to either the plot or character development?

Search “gratuitous multiple personality” for discussions of the same thing found in the works of many other fiction writers. It reflects the author’s own psychology.

1. Pearl S. Buck. The Good Earth [1931]. New York, Washington Square Press/ATRIA, 2020.