This is the first SAT essay I’ve written and I’m very new to this process so I would really appreciate lots of constructive criticism and ways you think I could improve my writing for the exam.
Thanks in advance!! 
Prompt: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily make them better?
In today’s society where we are constantly striving for a faster and more effortless way of living, easier does not always equate to better. Examples in several literary works demonstrate that changes that make our lives easier do not necessarily mean they are beneficial.
In Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, the protagonist Lear decides to abdicate the throne – an action that was widely considered disruptive to the natural order – in order to live an easier life without burden. However, upon his announcement that he would be giving up the crown, Lear’s life took a turn for the worse as he suffered from mistreatment from his daughters, who had inherited his kingdom. Left homeless and pathetic, Lear was arrested and eventually died in prison from heartbreak. Despite having made a choice that allowed him what he hoped would be an easier lifestyle, Lear’s decision to let go of his royal duties caused much trouble in his life and even led to his tragic demise, therefore proving that a change that makes our lives easier does not necessarily make them better.
Another example where an easier lifestyle does not mean one that is better is in “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. In this society where books are forgone and people watch excessive amounts of television and listen to the radio through sets attached to their ears instead of having deep conversations or thinking independently, citizens enjoy easy and carefree lifestyles without the need for deep concentration, but at the cost of knowledge and individuality. In spite of their apparent happiness, the people of the city were not freethinking and behaved like automatons, mindlessly obeying their authority. The lack of creativity and personal freedom that resulted from this change that made society easier to live in confirm the idea that living “easily” does not always result in the greater good.
In conclusion, while our desire for more effortless and carefree ways of living may seem justified, what we deem as easier or more efficient is not necessarily better. Careful consideration of the outcome should always be taken when we try to make things easier in our lives.