"The Sculptor's Funeral"

"The Sculptor's Funeral" is a short story by Willa Cather. It is literally about a sculptor, Harvey Merrick, who has died. The story takes place back in his hometown where the townspeople are awaiting the arrival of his body. During this wait, the townspeople talk negatively about Harvey. They don't praise his accomplishments and honor his life; instead, they speak harshly of his leaving town and in a sense, make fun of his life. Even his family share this same mentality. His sister acts very nonchalant and his mother is more enraged of how he is returning town, not sad that she just lost a son.
The attitude of the town says much about the people who make it up. Their society is so fixated to such a confined idea, that the thought of someone from their town leaving and making a better life for themselves is crazy. Because Harvey got the courage to leave and become an amazing sculptor, makes him a target for the townspeople to talk down on. In all actuality, they envy him. Although his life ended in a literal death, the townspeople killed him figuratively long before that tragedy. It's a shame when this happens, because people in the world today are also guilty of doing such a thing.