What effect does the appearance of the earth god in Journey to the West have on the plot of the novel?

The appearance of the Earth God in Journey to the West played an important role in the plot of the novel. The specific effects were as follows: 1. To provide background and setting: The Earth God is a very important god in Journey to the West. His appearance in the novel provides the background and setting for the story so that readers can better understand the place and background of the story. 2. Shaping the characters: The local god is also the creator of some characters in the novel, such as Sun Wukong's first teacher, the local ancestor, and Zhu Bajie's master, the local god. The appearance of these characters has added many characters and story clues to the novel. 3. Enhancing the cohesiveness of the plot: The Earth God appears at some important plot nodes, such as the battle between Sun Wukong and the Bull Demon King, the journey of Tang Sanzang, etc. His role is to remind the readers of the importance of time and tasks and to help the readers better understand the cohesiveness of the story. 4. Increase interest: Some stories and legends of the earth god also increase the interest of the novel, such as the earth god and his precious monkey, the gambling between the earth god and the immortals, etc. These plots allow readers to enjoy the fun and interest of the story while reading. Therefore, the local god played an important role in Journey to the West, providing the background and setting for the development of the novel, shaping many characters, strengthening the cohesiveness of the plot and increasing the interest.