Quan's Husband Character Analysis

Hesitance to Surrender Driven by ambition, Ben Fielding worked at the U.S. Bancorp Tower for Getz International in Portland, Oregon. Years ago, Ben had led his Chinese roommate Li Quan to the Lord. However, his job eventually became his god, molding his heart into stone and his ambitious lifestyle into worthless dreams. In hopes of selling products to Chinese citizens and exploring their culture, Ben travels to China and resides with Quan and his family. Quan’s faithful service to God stumps Ben, leaving him hesitant to follow through with Quan’s Christian practices and insincere in his attempt at acceptance of Quan’s lifestyle. As time passes and Ben observes God’s work in Quan’s life and even his own, Ben accepts Christ with surrender and passion.

As he worked to achieve that goal, he disregarded God and succumbed to the society’s worldview. After losing his wife Pam due to his affair, the death of his son, and his daughters’ rejection, Ben only had his job to pour into. His ambition and tireless work became his god. This transformation that occurred since college led him to firing his cousin Doug for his “distracting” faith and “bigotry.” Ben argued, “‘Why do you have to be so narrow, Doug?... Legal says it falls under the category of bigotry, and if we just stand by and let you inflict your bigotry on our employees, Getz can be held liable.’” (Alcorn, pg.32) Therefore, God was shoved into the recesses of Ben’s mind and never