How Much Land Does A Man Really Need? It seems that many times you will read a literary work and the main character is after something that is unattainable. There is always a driving force that seems to motivate the protagonist to obtain what he is pursuing. This motivation is the cause for the searches that the character goes on to fulfill his needs. There are many things, different to distinct people, which contribute to this motivation that sends them on his/her journey. In “How Much Land Does a Man Need,” the setting contributes to the motivation of the central character, Pahom.