In this story written by Willa Cather, she writes about a very bright man named Harvey Merrick who was born in sand citySand City, Kansas. heHe did not come from a very wealthy or supportive family, he . He was not liked by a lot of the citizens around him. Merrick decided to make a difference withinin his life and community by moving away to become a sculptor/ teacher. Soon after, he died from tuberculosis. hisHis student, Henry Stevan’sStevans, brings his body back to his hometown, where his family lived, for his burial. In this writing, Cather makes a point ofabout the clash of values between spiritual and material individuals. CathersCather's point in creating this writing was to prove to her audience that with having a society composed of those who are close-minded can effectaffect an individualsindividual's lifestyle.
Harvey Merrick was a guy who grew up with a not so goodnot-so-good background, which is what motivated him to become ana sculptor. Merrick was judgejudged by family members and townsman theytownsmen who became jealous of how goodwell he was doing on changingat turning his life around. asAs time went by, everyone had beenbecome used to knowing the old him before he became successful. His parents and those he lived with didn’t pay much attention to him but, yet he still stayedremained very kind-heartedkindhearted. “The old woman is a fury; there never was anybody like her for demonstrative piety and ingenious cruelty. She made Harvey's life a hell for him when he lived at home; he was so sick [and] ashamed of it. I never could see how he kept himself so sweet.” He understood that material things don’t bring happiness to one as well as thatbecause once people are stuck in their ways, they refuse to change. Which, which is why he was not sovery well liked by the townspeople and was not concerned about being liked withinin his small town. While becoming a sculptor, as well as hea teacher, the few people thatwho did understand him realized that he had a good heart and was trying to do better for himself.
All the people thatwho Merrick was surrounded by were not very supportive of his decision nor too fond of his achievements. A student of Harvey’s, Henry SteavensStevans, soon understands the significance of who Merrick actually wasis. The townspeople wereare a group who createdcreates expectations for the individuals in their town based off ofon materialistic things and wealth. WithWhen Harvey leavingleaves his small town to achieve his dreamdreams, he soon after stoodstands out from the others around him and his family withinin Kansas. "HarveHarvey never was much account for anything practical, and he shore was never fond of work," began the coal and lumber dealer. "A lot of the citizens in sand citySand City didn’t think thethat he would go far as an artist because it was something out of the ordinary for them as well with knowing his background."
Outside of Henry Stevan’sStevans, who was a good friend of Harvey’s, Jim liardLiard was another person who really understood MerricksMerrick's background and appreciated his talent. Jim Liard was a friend to Harvey who had known him for years and truly admired and was very proud of who Merrick was. Even though Jim Maymay have a had a drinking problem, he wanted to dobe just like Merrick and become a great person. Just like Harvey, was liardLiard didn’t want to be judgejudged by the townspeople around him, which led him to being anbecome a lawyer. Jim stood up for Merrick as much as he could when it came to other business men within sand citySand City, "There was only one boy ever raised in this borderland between ruffianism and civilization who didn't come to grief, and you hated Harvey Merrick more for winning out than you hated all the other boys who got under the wheels." He was very determined to make them see Harvey from his point of view instead of judging someone who was bringing positivity to their city.
Moreover, even though Harvey MerrickMerrick's sculpturing career was cut short due to his becoming sick , as well as his achievements going unnoticed to those who knew him., Harvey becoming a gifted sculptor helped him to be able to leave ana great impact on his town and create himself a new life for himself by stepping away from the people who were judgmental and small mindedsmall-minded in his hometown. A lot of men are pressured by histheir surroundings, which motivates them to influence others around them. Such aswas the case for Harvey, even though stilllong after his death the townspeople still had nothing positive to say about him because he was nothing like them. AHe influenced a lot of people he influenced to do better and not bebecome trapped intoby the norm.