The Samuri's Tale

In Haugaard’s The Good Earth, Taro faces many obstacles. He has a very traumatic life, and even though so many things happen to him, he never gives up his lifelong dream of becoming a samurai. He is persistent, optimistic, loyal, quick-witted, courageous and humble to name a few. Near the beginning mainly, Taro has to deal with the loss of many of his friends and even a family member. His mother was killed in …

…eventually become a samurai. He says, ‘The years had not lessened my desire to be numbered among the samurai and, to me, the saddle symbolized that rank and gave me renewed hope of attaining it.’ <p.41> Though Taro uses humbleness to overcome this obstacle, he also uses it to defeat Jiro in their fight. He is not accusatory toward Jiro, and he tries to ‘fight’ him without actually having to hit him or hurt him.