Throughout the novel, much of the credit for the Wang family's wealth can be attributed to the cultivation of and respect for the earth. When Wang Lung tended to the land, almost every time he achieved substantial success and happiness, which subsequently allowed his children to be born into wealth. On the contrary, whenever the land was unable to be tended to (during droughts and floods) Wang Lung and his family endured times of immense poverty. This relationship with the land was exceptionally important to the Wang family, so Wang Lung tried to convey the ideals to his sons. However, they ignored his advice, deciding that they would do the opposite and sell the land. As Alexandre Dumas said, “Those born to wealth, and who have the means
