Conflicts And Blending: A Study Of Differences And Similarities Of Chinese Culture And American Culture In The House Of Earth Trilogy

As the first American female writer who won the Nobel Prize in literature, Pearl Buck has engendered far-reaching influence. This thesis analyzes The House of Earth Trilogy from the perspective of the differences and similarities of Chinese culture and American culture reflected.Growing up in the Sino-American cultural background, Pearl Buck tries to absorb the merits of the Western and the Eastern cultures, and eventually the two kinds of cultures intermingle in herself, which provide her with a rich source and a strong motive for her creation.This thesis first gives an introduction to the life experience of Pearl S. Buck and her literary achievements, as well as the echoes and debates on The House of Earth Trilogy from China and America which reflect the different evaluations on the trilogy from different cultural backgrounds and for different intentions. Then, in the first chapter, this thesis discusses the formation of Pearl S. Buck's Chinese-American cultural background from the influence of her childhood life experience, her education and her parents, and Chinese culture, as well as the influence of Charles Dickens. In the second and third chapters, this thesis discusses the differences and similarities of cultural backgrounds and values between China and America in The House of Earth Trilogy, which reflect the influence of Chinese culture and American culture on the trilogy.In conclusion, the author gives a brief summary of the whole thesis. Having received both Chinese and American educations and affected by both Chinese and American cultures, Buck held deep affections for China, and was greatly influenced by American culture. This special experience provided her so unique conditions that she was capable of observing and depicting Chinese farmers from a unique angle under the influence of Chinese and American cultures.