"The Sculptor's Funeral" by Willa Cather clearly demonstrates the influence that people can have on a man's life. The story is set in a town where a man's worth is determined by his economic status and achievement. What is expected of the men in the town hinders the quest for individuality. Harvey Merrick was the only man with the fortitude to attempt to escape the bitter judgment of the town. His accomplishments in life weren't based upon wealth, and his view on life wasn't shaded by the yearning to fit into the mold that the town had created for a "great" man to fit into. Yet, he was still criticized by his family and his greatness remained unacknowledged. Jim Laird's effort to break away from the town's influence was soon brought to an end. With the demands from his family to be a successful lawyer, he was coerced into returning to where he came from. Instead of living the life of

A man's life can be shaped by the society that surrounds him. The direction he takes in life oftentimes reflects how he lets his surroundings influence him, and his life is then altered by society.

"Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the impact that society has on life. Goodman Brown was the product of a strictly Puritan based way of life. The teachings and beliefs of this religion guided his life and stood as the foremost controlling faith in his life. Knowing nothing of the hypocrisy and true evil of the religion, Goodman Brown followed the faith blindly. This unwavering assurance that the religion was as pure and lead by pious individuals masked the truth of it all. The very people who taught him the values of the Puritan faith were the ones who tainted it with their sinful and malevolent practices. However, he had no reason to question his faith because he had been taught that his religion was not only a way of life, but also an elite class of people who were virtuous. Thus, society had shaped his life. He had a steadfast trust in the religi

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 730
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)