A person's parents are often the most inspirational and influential people in one's life. Children often imitate and take on the values and characteristics of the adults in there life. It is not uncommon for a child's entire personality to be shaped by example set forth by their parents. Stories such as Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," illustrate the great effects, both positive and negative, that a parent can have in molding the behavior of their offspring. .
Willy Loman's influence on his two sons in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a prime example of the negative effects a parent's lackluster performance can bring forth. Rather than have played a positive role in Biff's development, Willy established a poor standard of morality. When Biff stole a football in high school, Willy praised him for his initiative. This praise for such an immoral act gave Biff the skewed perception that stealing is acceptable and carries on the practice well into his adult life. It is not until he gets into a heated conversation with his father that he realizes the consequences of his actions: "I stole myself out of every good job since high school" (1308; act 2). Willy's nonchalant ideals of thievery are also projected onto his other son, Happy. Happy also has a habit of lying and exaggerating about his background in order to impress others: "That's my name. Hap. It's really Harold, but at West Point they called me Happy" (1286; act 2). Happy never attended West Point, but showed carelessness in the lie in much the same way his father would lie about the sales he made while on business trips. In the play, there was little hope for Biff and Happy because Willy continued to show poor standards of morality in a positive light. .
In the short story "A Rose for Emily," William Faulkner presents a troubled character named Emily Grierson.
