In Defense Of Pearl S.Buck’s "Inauthentic" Imges

Pearl S.Buck, who dedicated her life to recommending and introducing the Chinese culture to the West, won the1938’s Nobel Prize in literature by her Chinese theme works The Good Earth trilogy. Before the publication of Pearl S.Buck’s The Good Earth trilogy, most western writers’images of China were imaginary and they described Chinese people either as philosophies or as unscrupulous scoundrels. Pearl S.Buck, however, first portrayed the authentic Chinese images in the world literature, depending on her real experience of life in China. However, since1930s when her works were translated and criticized in domestic academic circles, several scholars questioned her Chinese images’authenticity.This thesis attempted to pursue the real experience of Pearl S.Buck’s life in China, and compare the authentic material which she selected for her writing and most representative images in her novels, therefore, prove the authenticity of the images and defend for her "inauthenticity"The introduction traces back the history of studying Pearl S.Buck at home and abroad. It also points out the questions towards the authenticity of Chinese images in her novels. The main body of this thesis consists of three parts. The first part proves the authenticity of primitive farmers according to the Pearl S.Buck’s real life in Suzhou of Anhui Province. The second part proves the authenticity of generally frustrated farmers in the early20th century, depending on the thoughts of the limitations of farmers revealed in many biographies. In the third part, with the viewpoints revealed in many reports and speeches, we may safely say that the eulogization of Chinese’s struggle spirit is sort of true record. Depending on the personal contact of Chinese students, it’s Pearl S.Buck’s great assumption and predictions for the future.