Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself. Vol. 2 (of 2)

"Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself. Vol. 2" by Robert Montgomery Bird is a 19th-century novel where Sheppard Lee magically changes into different people, allowing him to see life through their eyes, and to think about who he is, what is right and wrong, and what it means to be human. The book humorously makes fun of society, especially how being too greedy and failing to be good have negative outcomes, as seen through Sheppard Lee's experiences as others. The story begins with Abram Skinner, a very stingy person, whose lack of care for his children causes problems for his family. Sheppard Lee, made to be Skinner, has to deal with the results of forgetting his duties as a parent, all while feeling strangely connected to Skinner’s children. As he fights these new emotions, the family struggles, leading to fights with the sons, who choose bad habits instead of taking advantage of their father's money. This thorough intro creates a scene to explore how greed and family fights impact people, showing how money can ruin relationships and create sadness instead of joy.