Several stories are written from the imagination or based on real events. However, the meanings can be the same depending on the structure, plot and characterization of the story. This article will use two different stories to illustrate the influence of social pressures on human behaviors and identities. Stories to be used in this article include "Our Precious Lunatic" and "Hejira," the former written by Twain and the latter by Sedaris. In Hejira's story, it is clear that the author makes extensive use of first-person narration. (Sedaris 1). This style is meant to connect people to the story, since the author was a part of it; even more so because the story is about the author's experiences. “Our Precious Lunatic” is a story presented in a reported speech about incidents in a courtroom. Both stories therefore differ in the way of presentation: “Hejira” is based on the first person, while the other is presented in the third person. While “Our Precious Lunatic” has a very convincing structure, Hejira does not. The first begins the story with an introduction, explains the environment and proceeds with the body part. The story is developed systematically and then concludes effectively with a smooth flow. However, Herija's story is introduced slowly and abruptly interrupted, leaving the reader with many questions about what might happen. Structure is very important in developing better explanatory frameworks. While in Herija the author is an open antagonist, in the story “Our Precious Lunatic” the protagonist is mainly the main character at the beginning, who is supported by the masses but in the end changes role to become an antagonist. The plot of the story Herija is about......half of the paper......x Differences in human behavior: evolved dispositions regarding social roles”. American psychologist. 54.6 (1999): 408-423. Print.Fetner, Tina. How the Religious Right Shaped Lesbian and Gay Activism. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2008. Print.Martin, John P. “The Insanity Defense: A Closer Look.” Washington Post. Washington Post, 1998. Web. August 3, 2011. Melville, John D and David Naimark. “Punishing the Insane: The Guilty But Mental Illness Verdict.” Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law. 30 (2002): 553–555. Print.Rogers, Richard and Daniel Shuman. Conduct insanity assessments. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2000. Print.Sedaris, David. Hegira. np, 1870. Web. August 3, 2011.Twain, Mark. Our precious loon. np, 2011. Web. August 3, 2011. Whitehead, Briar. Longing for love. Grand Rapids, MI: Monarch, 2003. Print.