Sons by Pearl Buck
We do want to know others - other countries, other religions, other languages. But we also want to connect with them - relate to the these people. Even in the books we read.
That hardly happens when we read an English book by a western writer - more often British or American writer. Not only are the English, seven seas apart, have their cultures so unlike ours. Even the stories of common folk, even the stories of farmers, not relate to us.
We may like the story line, we may bleed out our heart for their protagonists, but we never feel that 'apnapan' - kindred spirit.
The book is a sequel to 'The Good Earth'. And is the story of three sons of the protagonist of Good Earth. Three sons he has- and how different they are! And all of them named Wang.
The eldest is a land lord, having inherited a vast amount of fields from his father - and as was the custom for such land lords, is lazy and spends all his time and money on wine, women and food.
The second son becomes a merchant and true to his profession, he spends each waking hour, accumulating money and silver - enriching his coffers. He is very penny smart and thrifty.
The third son is the warrior - nicknamed Wang the tiger. He has his own army of men and wages war on robbers - defeats them and claims their area. Though he doesn't believe it, he is like a robber with his gang - but kinder.
Is this the dream Wang the senior had for his children? Do any of them care for his land, his house? Pear Blossom, his concubine, is the only person who mourns for Wang. She is also the only one, who cares for Wang's youngest mentally retarded daughter nicknamed 'The fool'. She is the one who cares for the Wang the trader's hunchback son.
And what happens to the families of these Wangs? Or more importantly the sons of them? In those days, wives and daughters did not count and were just part of the households like servants and cattles.
Eldest son - Wang the landlord's sons become spendthrift and then move to different cities to live with their wives. After taking a large chunk of silver from the father. One son of the merchant had joined his uncle's army and was his confident. Then he comes back, marries and settles for a laid back life of rich people.
Wang the tiger marries late in life. First time he marries the concubine of another robber after killing him. After the death of her (in fact, he kills her when he realizes that she was planning to give all his weapons to some one else), he marries two different women selected by his two brothers. And he marries them only to beget a son.
And the son he gets and he adores. He was spending a lot of time with him . He gives this son all the necessary education for wars employing a tutor. He even sends his son to another town for more education, hoping that once he returns he will rule over his own army.
That was not to be. Wang's son has become a revolutionary and is almost at the verge of arresting his own father.
Even today, in India, doesn't our life revolve around our children? No matter whether we are rich or poor, living in a village or city. We earn to feed and educate them. We save every penny, hoping that our children will have a better life.
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