Happiness Definition:An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness. www.dictionary.com Pursuit Definition: an effort to secure or attain; quest: the pursuit of happiness. www.dictionary.com
Outside Sources
#1
Although the phrase "pursuit of happiness" is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is mentioned in several state Constitutions. The state Constitutions, in their Declaration of Rights, provide that "all men are created equally free and independent; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Although pursuit of happiness may be an "inalienable right" for the characters in each story, many come to find that it is not attainable. For example, money and ambition seem to prevent Gatsby and Claire from becoming truly happy. In addition, society's pressures hold Jack and Ennis back from being together.
#2 United States History "We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." -Obama
Even in our culture today people, like President Obama, feel that everyone deserves to experience and hold on to happiness. Sadly, in many situations, happiness cannot come from others, it must come from within ourselves. This can be seen in Passing when Claire realizes that only she can change the life she has begun. This can also be seen in Brokeback Moutain when Ennis and Jack are struggling with the decision to see each other or not. The consequences of what might happen if they are caught seem to override their desire to be together. Sadly, they never are able to confront this issue, and much of their lives are spent knowing what they want, but not having the strength to address it.
#3
Second Continental Congress "Declaration of Independence"
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It seems that many Americans have been pursuing the Wall Street version of happiness with a
vengeance, encouraged by the 2006 blockbuster
“Pursuit of Happy-ness,” in which Will Smith and his real-life son become best buddies in an epic journey from rags to riches. Try typing “pursuit of happiness” on Google. Half of the page is filled with websites devoted to the movie, in spite of the fact that you got the spelling right.
It’s no wonder that, in the minds of many Americans, the “pursuit of happiness” is unconsciously equated with the pursuit of wealth and security.
What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he enshrined the "pursuit of happiness" as a basic right in the Declaration of Independence? One influential theory is that Jefferson plagiarized the English political thinker John Locke, who championed “life, liberty and estate (property).” According to this view, Jefferson’s replacement of the word “estate” with the “pursuit of happiness,” was essentially cosmetic. The “pursuit of happiness” was code for the pursuit of wealth. From this point of view, Jefferson’s vision of happiness was the “rags to riches” version of the good life.
There is a good chance that this theory is wrong, because we have misunderstood Jefferson’s view of happiness. One reason is that we have misunderstood the Greek thinker Epicurus, who had a major impact on his thinking.
In a letter to William Short, an ex-neighbor and private secretary who served him in Paris, Jefferson bluntly states that “I am an Epicurean.” At the end of the letter he outlines a syllabus of Epicurus’ philosophy. This includes the topic “Happiness is the Aim of Life.”
It turns out that Epicurus’ idea of happiness was strangely similar to that of Buddha. He did not teach in a lavishly funded Academy. Instead he conversed with his students in a cozy, well-tended garden. Jefferson felt that Epicurus had been badly misunder-stood. Epicurus was not an "egoistic hedonist," as he is still portrayed in many textbooks. He treated his followers like family, emphasized simplicity and the need to tame desires, (especially those not aimed at the “necessities” of life), and pretty well equated happiness with peace of mind.
In other words, if he was around now, you wouldn’t see Epicurus on Wall Street. He was not a proponent of the “rags to riches” view of happiness. Far from it. You could call it the “riches within rags” view of happiness. Simply put, if you cultivated close friendships, limited your desires to the essential necessities of life, and rejoiced in the moment, happiness was yours to keep.
Assuming he was an Epicurean, Jeffer-son's “Pursuit of Happiness” is much more than an economic slogan.
#4
John Locke
Loving v Virginia The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men. Meyer v Nebraska In his decision, Justice McReynoldsstated that although the state "may do much . . . in order to improve the quality of its citizens," the statute exceeded "the limitations on the power of the state and conflict[ed] with rights assured" to Meyer. The "liberty" protected by the Due Process clause "[w]ithout doubt...denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint but also the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry, establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those privileges long recognized…as essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men."
#5 World History: Aristotle: "Happiness depends on ourselves." Media:
Clearly in our media and culture, there seems to be emphasis on people trying to find happiness. Hapiness is even advertised to appeal to consumers. However, we can also see that this ideal has not been reached. There are disparities between true hapiness and perceived happiness in each of the stories we have read. For example, in American Beauty, Carolyn tries so hard to give off an impression of perfection and enthusiam, but under the surface we know she is insecure and lonely. There seems to be a trend in our cutlure today and in the past of people pursuing "happiness," but not really knowing if that is the kind of happiness they truly desire. Another example of flawed happiness can be seen in the Yellow Wallpaper. Although the woman's husband thinks he is helping her by controlling her life and dictating her every move, he is actually ruining her. Sometimes other people seem to know what is best for us, but in this story, there is a clear disconnect which keeps the woman from staying happy or sane. #6 The meaning of "equally free and independent" is unclear and ambiguous, so say the courts of America. The "pursuit of happiness" is one of the "unalienable rights" of people enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, along with "life" and "liberty." "The right to pursue any lawful business or vocation, in any manner not inconsistent with the equal rights of others, which may increase their prosperity or develop their faculties, so as to give them their highest enjoyment." Butchers' Co. v. Crescent City Co., 111 U.S. 746, 757, (1884.)
#7
Because the right is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is not enforceable by the courts. However, the right to the pursuit of happiness is often raised in arguments against government regulations, because its mention in the Declaration of Independence gives it a degree of forcefulness. Barron's Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed, pg.378.
Although the phrase "pursuit of happiness" is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is set forth in several state Constitutions. The state Constitutions, in their Declaration of Rights, provide that "all men are created equally free and independent; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
#8
For most people, marriage would be considered "in the pursuit of happiness."The United States Supreme Court, in recognizing that marriage is a fundamental right, stated that "the freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness." Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, 12, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1010, 87 S. Ct. 1817 (1967). See also Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374, 54 L. Ed. 2d 618, 98 S. Ct. 673 (1978). The Supreme Court held that state regulations that interfere with the fundamental right to remarry will be subject to strict scrutiny and will be upheld only if they are "supported by sufficiently important state interests and [are] closely tailored to effectuate only those interests." Zablocki, 434 U.S. at 388. http://www.fa-ir.org/ai/happiness.htm #9 Here is an article about what Americans have begun to perceive happiness as. However, as this article explains, the notion that money is the ultimate goal has misled us into thinking we are truly happy. This is a trap that Clare Kendry from Passing has fallen into. http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/03/how-to-find-happiness-without-buying-it.html
In Class
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott FitzGerald
American Beauty Each of the characters in American Beauty seems to have a goal they are reaching for. Angela wants to be known and recognized. She wants people to admire her and fear her at the same time. Carolyn wants her life to be an image of perfection in her neighborhood and around her peers. Colonel Fitts wants his son to be strong and obey his father’s commands. However, for these particular characters, their goals and “pursuits of happiness” are never truly reached. Accomplishing these goals is always just out of reach, and something impedes them from feeling satisfied. In contrast, Ricky and Jane, upon finding each other and going against what others think, do find a happiness they have been looking for. Both seem lonely and upset before meeting each other, but their relationship allows them to share these feelings with each other and resolve their angers with their outside families and lives. Because Ricky and Jane are seeking something genuine for personal gain, despite what others tell them not to do, they ultimately find it. They are honest with themselves, and this helps them to reach goals. However, because the other characters are constantly striving to impress others or create a particular image of themselves, their attempts are in vain. American Beauty shows us that true happiness can only be reached if the individual is thinking independently and honestly. Passing by Nella Larsen
Many characters in Passing have a distorted sense of what they want and of what will ultimately make them happy. Catharine, until she meets Irene, thinks she wants money, and luxury, and security. She thinks she was fancy dresses and beautiful homes, and she is willing to conceal her true race to sacrifice for this goal. Therefore, she marries a man who wouldn’t have married her if he knew she was black, and she gets caught up in a society by pretending. When Clare meets up with Irene, she begins to realize that devoting herself to a fake lifestyle is not really what she wants. Irene represents Clare’s past and the identity and community Clare ran away from. However, upon reencountering this old life, she begins to realize that she wants it back. Irene also has conflicting ideas about what she wants in life. Often times, she is caught between wanting to be free from Clare and wanting to help her. Although Clare can be a great burden for Irene, she continues to see her and let her reenter her life.In the end, this frustrates Irene to the point where she might have pushed Clare out of the window, seeking to get rid of the problem that causes her so much anxiety. Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx Throughout Brokeback Mountain, there is a tension between what characters truly want and what society wants for them. Ennis and Jack know that they cannot openly be gay or bisexual in their communities and homes. Ennis’ life begins to fall apart when his wife realizes he is involved with a man. Every time Ennis and Jack meet up, they discuss what to do, angry that their fear of the consequences inhibits them from being themselves. Both know that because they cannot be together, they are not truly happy with their lives. The pressure of social standards controls how they act and what they pursue in their lives.
Yellow Wallpaper The problem for the woman in this story is that she cannot pursue happiness indepentendly. Her husband always decides what is best for her. This indirect control of her life begins to ruin her because her husband doesn’t actually know what is good for her and what is not. Despite what she tells him, John continually forces her to stay alone in the room. This isolation builds begins to build on her, and she begins to cope in other ways. This drives her to become obsessed with the wallpaper and lose her sanity.Throughout her pursuit to free the woman in the wallpaper, the main character thinks she is freeing herself. Her mind is telling her to help the woman escape, but what she doesn’t recognize is independence is exactly what she wants. By the end of the story, the woman is so out of control that she does not know what is real and what is imagined anymore.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God By American theologian Jonathan Edwards (preached on July 8, 1741) The sermon focuses on how the society needs more Christianity to be protected and cared by the God. In order to pursue the happiness (according to John Edwards), people have to believe in god and therefore they would not fall down to the hell. The descriptions that Jonathan Edwards used were horryfying image such as a spider held by the angry god on the fire. He asserts that the contemporary society starts to become lazy in beliving Christianity, which eventually bring the exact opposite of happiness. Althoguh the heavenly figure of the God doesn't appear in the sermon, the pursuit of happiness is implied through the opposite description, which coerces the listeners to pursue happiness through benign god.
How to Breathe Under Water by Julie Orringer Care Tessa is a drug addict and dependent on Devvie and Sally (Drug). Since she had an isolated background, neglected by her parents often tiems, the drug is only hope and joy for Tessa. The story consists of two main characters: Tessa and her nephew, Olivia. Tessa describes her role as an adult to Olivia however, she constantly looks for Devvie and Sally instead of taking care of Olivia. she attempts to abandon her drugs at the end of the novel to recover her life. Nevertheless, only thing that makes her happy is by taking the drugs; thus, she couldn't resist the temptation and digs into the dirt to find them back. Stars of the Motown Shining Bright Jack Jacob tries to pursue happiness by having sexual relationships. When he brings both Melissa and Lucy to his house, he wants to “get down” and “have fun together”. For Lucy, possessing a gun is what brings her happiness. Throughout the story, she experiences other people controlling her life. Jack indeed uses her for physical desire; however, the gun gives her authority to control other people. She gets this sense of power which eventually drives Jack to incarcerate in his closet.
Smoothest way is full of stones through the book Essence of Persimmon, Rebecca finds the world that’s outside of secular Jewish moral codes. She begins to explore the ‘outside’ where her family forbids. For instance, her parents tell Rebecca not to go swmming in the lake due to perhaps revealing sexual images, Rebecca finds herself in the water without her clothes on. She, in fact, swims freely in the water without trapped by her family’s moral code. She pursues happiness through her independence. Middle Passage by Charles Johnson In Middle Passage, by Charles Johnson, Rutherford Calhoun pursues happiness by fleeing New Orleans. He feels that he would be happier without Isadora in his life, so he sneaks himself onto the Republic. The majority of Middle Passage has to do with taking happiness away from people. The Republic’s goal is to capture the Allmuseri and take them into slavery. This will take the freedom away from the Allmuseri. No one is happy in this story and they have tremendous difficulty pursuing their happiness because they are stuck in their own little world on the Republic.
Deadman's Cellphone by Sarah Ruhl Dwight and Jean both pursue happiness in Dead Man’s Cell Phone, by Sarah Ruhl. Dwight finds in Jean the person that he loves and he goes all out for her. He also has a job at the paper store that he is extremely happy with. Jean pursues love with both Gordon and Dwight. She falls in love with the image she has of Gordon. In her life before the story begins, Jean has not had much companionship and as a result she is drawn to Gordon because she does not actually know him so she can create her own image of him. She later falls in love with Dwight because he actually cares about her. Mrs. Gottlieb also pursues happiness by throwing herself into the fire so that she can be with Gordon.
Story of an Hour The woman in this story begins her pursuit of happiness when she looks out the window and feels newfound freedom now that her husband is dead. While alone in her room, she comes to the realization that not being bound by marriage is what she truly wants. Although she may have subconsciously known this earlier, now that her husband is gone, she fully understands how relieved she feels to be independent.
The Storm The woman in the Storm also has pursues illicit happiness when concealed by the storm. However, in this story, it is evident that she can only give in to what she wants when no one knows. Therefore, she must pretend that she truly only cares about her family and that she would never cheat on her husband. Although she appears to be happy and relieved when her family finally comes home, we see that there is another side of her that wishes she could escape that routine for a while.
Chris, Gretchen, Steven
Happiness Definition:An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness.
www.dictionary.com
Pursuit Definition:
an effort to secure or attain; quest: the pursuit of happiness.
www.dictionary.com
Outside Sources
#1
Although the phrase "pursuit of happiness" is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is mentioned in several state Constitutions. The state Constitutions, in their Declaration of Rights, provide that "all men are created equally free and independent; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Although pursuit of happiness may be an "inalienable right" for the characters in each story, many come to find that it is not attainable. For example, money and ambition seem to prevent Gatsby and Claire from becoming truly happy. In addition, society's pressures hold Jack and Ennis back from being together.
#2
United States History
"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." -Obama
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/20/president-obamas-inaugural-address/
Even in our culture today people, like President Obama, feel that everyone deserves to experience and hold on to happiness. Sadly, in many situations, happiness cannot come from others, it must come from within ourselves. This can be seen in Passing when Claire realizes that only she can change the life she has begun. This can also be seen in Brokeback Moutain when Ennis and Jack are struggling with the decision to see each other or not. The consequences of what might happen if they are caught seem to override their desire to be together. Sadly, they never are able to confront this issue, and much of their lives are spent knowing what they want, but not having the strength to address it.
#3
It seems that many Americans have been pursuing the Wall Street version of happiness with a
vengeance, encouraged by the 2006 blockbuster
“Pursuit of Happy-ness,” in which Will Smith and his real-life son become best buddies in an epic journey from rags to riches. Try typing “pursuit of happiness” on Google. Half of the page is filled with websites devoted to the movie, in spite of the fact that you got the spelling right.
It’s no wonder that, in the minds of many Americans, the “pursuit of happiness” is unconsciously equated with the pursuit of wealth and security.
What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he enshrined the "pursuit of happiness" as a basic right in the Declaration of Independence? One influential theory is that Jefferson plagiarized the English political thinker John Locke, who championed “life, liberty and estate (property).” According to this view, Jefferson’s replacement of the word “estate” with the “pursuit of happiness,” was essentially cosmetic. The “pursuit of happiness” was code for the pursuit of wealth. From this point of view, Jefferson’s vision of happiness was the “rags to riches” version of the good life.
There is a good chance that this theory is wrong, because we have misunderstood Jefferson’s view of happiness. One reason is that we have misunderstood the Greek thinker Epicurus, who had a major impact on his thinking.
In a letter to William Short, an ex-neighbor and private secretary who served him in Paris, Jefferson bluntly states that “I am an Epicurean.” At the end of the letter he outlines a syllabus of Epicurus’ philosophy. This includes the topic “Happiness is the Aim of Life.”
It turns out that Epicurus’ idea of happiness was strangely similar to that of Buddha. He did not teach in a lavishly funded Academy. Instead he conversed with his students in a cozy, well-tended garden. Jefferson felt that Epicurus had been badly misunder-stood. Epicurus was not an "egoistic hedonist," as he is still portrayed in many textbooks. He treated his followers like family, emphasized simplicity and the need to tame desires, (especially those not aimed at the “necessities” of life), and pretty well equated happiness with peace of mind.
In other words, if he was around now, you wouldn’t see Epicurus on Wall Street. He was not a proponent of the “rags to riches” view of happiness. Far from it. You could call it the “riches within rags” view of happiness. Simply put, if you cultivated close friendships, limited your desires to the essential necessities of life, and rejoiced in the moment, happiness was yours to keep.
Assuming he was an Epicurean, Jeffer-son's “Pursuit of Happiness” is much more than an economic slogan.
#4
The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.
Meyer v Nebraska
In his decision, Justice McReynoldsstated that although the state "may do much . . . in order to improve the quality of its citizens," the statute exceeded "the limitations on the power of the state and conflict[ed] with rights assured" to Meyer. The "liberty" protected by the Due Process clause "[w]ithout doubt...denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint but also the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry, establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those privileges long recognized…as essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men."
#5
World History:
Aristotle:
"Happiness depends on ourselves."
Media:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/01/27/happiness-in-america/3706.html
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/09/Happiness-study-Imagine-no-possessions/UPI-52681234159631/
http://pursuit-of-happiness.org/default.aspx
Science of Happiness
http://pursuit-of-happiness.org/sciencehappiness.aspx
New York Times article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article569839.ece
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DEFD61538F934A3575AC0A9659C8B63
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20081215-000001.html
Ed Diener (Dr. Happy)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1405146613?ie=UTF8&tag=pursuitofha04-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1405146613
Clearly in our media and culture, there seems to be emphasis on people trying to find happiness. Hapiness is even advertised to appeal to consumers. However, we can also see that this ideal has not been reached. There are disparities between true hapiness and perceived happiness in each of the stories we have read. For example, in American Beauty, Carolyn tries so hard to give off an impression of perfection and enthusiam, but under the surface we know she is insecure and lonely. There seems to be a trend in our cutlure today and in the past of people pursuing "happiness," but not really knowing if that is the kind of happiness they truly desire. Another example of flawed happiness can be seen in the Yellow Wallpaper. Although the woman's husband thinks he is helping her by controlling her life and dictating her every move, he is actually ruining her. Sometimes other people seem to know what is best for us, but in this story, there is a clear disconnect which keeps the woman from staying happy or sane.
#6
The meaning of "equally free and independent" is unclear and ambiguous, so say the courts of America. The "pursuit of happiness" is one of the "unalienable rights" of people enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, along with "life" and "liberty." "The right to pursue any lawful business or vocation, in any manner not inconsistent with the equal rights of others, which may increase their prosperity or develop their faculties, so as to give them their highest enjoyment." Butchers' Co. v. Crescent City Co., 111 U.S. 746, 757, (1884.)
#7
Because the right is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is not enforceable by the courts. However, the right to the pursuit of happiness is often raised in arguments against government regulations, because its mention in the Declaration of Independence gives it a degree of forcefulness. Barron's Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed, pg.378.
Although the phrase "pursuit of happiness" is not set forth in the U. S. Constitution, it is set forth in several state Constitutions. The state Constitutions, in their Declaration of Rights, provide that "all men are created equally free and independent; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
#8
For most people, marriage would be considered "in the pursuit of happiness."The United States Supreme Court, in recognizing that marriage is a fundamental right, stated that "the freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness." Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, 12, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1010, 87 S. Ct. 1817 (1967). See also Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374, 54 L. Ed. 2d 618, 98 S. Ct. 673 (1978). The Supreme Court held that state regulations that interfere with the fundamental right to remarry will be subject to strict scrutiny and will be upheld only if they are "supported by sufficiently important state interests and [are] closely tailored to effectuate only those interests." Zablocki, 434 U.S. at 388.
http://www.fa-ir.org/ai/happiness.htm
#9
Here is an article about what Americans have begun to perceive happiness as. However, as this article explains, the notion that money is the ultimate goal has misled us into thinking we are truly happy. This is a trap that Clare Kendry from Passing has fallen into.
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/03/how-to-find-happiness-without-buying-it.html
In Class
The Great Gatsby
American Beauty
Each of the characters in American Beauty seems to have a goal they are reaching for. Angela wants to be known and recognized. She wants people to admire her and fear her at the same time. Carolyn wants her life to be an image of perfection in her neighborhood and around her peers. Colonel Fitts wants his son to be strong and obey his father’s commands. However, for these particular characters, their goals and “pursuits of happiness” are never truly reached. Accomplishing these goals is always just out of reach, and something impedes them from feeling satisfied. In contrast, Ricky and Jane, upon finding each other and going against what others think, do find a happiness they have been looking for. Both seem lonely and upset before meeting each other, but their relationship allows them to share these feelings with each other and resolve their angers with their outside families and lives. Because Ricky and Jane are seeking something genuine for personal gain, despite what others tell them not to do, they ultimately find it. They are honest with themselves, and this helps them to reach goals. However, because the other characters are constantly striving to impress others or create a particular image of themselves, their attempts are in vain. American Beauty shows us that true happiness can only be reached if the individual is thinking independently and honestly.
Passing by Nella Larsen
Picture from: http://blogs.timesunion.com/books/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/passing.jpg
Many characters in Passing have a distorted sense of what they want and of what will ultimately make them happy. Catharine, until she meets Irene, thinks she wants money, and luxury, and security. She thinks she was fancy dresses and beautiful homes, and she is willing to conceal her true race to sacrifice for this goal. Therefore, she marries a man who wouldn’t have married her if he knew she was black, and she gets caught up in a society by pretending. When Clare meets up with Irene, she begins to realize that devoting herself to a fake lifestyle is not really what she wants. Irene represents Clare’s past and the identity and community Clare ran away from. However, upon reencountering this old life, she begins to realize that she wants it back. Irene also has conflicting ideas about what she wants in life. Often times, she is caught between wanting to be free from Clare and wanting to help her. Although Clare can be a great burden for Irene, she continues to see her and let her reenter her life. In the end, this frustrates Irene to the point where she might have pushed Clare out of the window, seeking to get rid of the problem that causes her so much anxiety.
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
Throughout Brokeback Mountain, there is a tension between what characters truly want and what society wants for them. Ennis and Jack know that they cannot openly be gay or bisexual in their communities and homes. Ennis’ life begins to fall apart when his wife realizes he is involved with a man. Every time Ennis and Jack meet up, they discuss what to do, angry that their fear of the consequences inhibits them from being themselves. Both know that because they cannot be together, they are not truly happy with their lives. The pressure of social standards controls how they act and what they pursue in their lives.
Yellow Wallpaper
The problem for the woman in this story is that she cannot pursue happiness indepentendly. Her husband always decides what is best for her. This indirect control of her life begins to ruin her because her husband doesn’t actually know what is good for her and what is not. Despite what she tells him, John continually forces her to stay alone in the room. This isolation builds begins to build on her, and she begins to cope in other ways. This drives her to become obsessed with the wallpaper and lose her sanity. Throughout her pursuit to free the woman in the wallpaper, the main character thinks she is freeing herself. Her mind is telling her to help the woman escape, but what she doesn’t recognize is independence is exactly what she wants. By the end of the story, the woman is so out of control that she does not know what is real and what is imagined anymore.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
By American theologian Jonathan Edwards (preached on July 8, 1741)
The sermon focuses on how the society needs more Christianity to be protected and cared by the God. In order to pursue the happiness (according to John Edwards), people have to believe in god and therefore they would not fall down to the hell. The descriptions that Jonathan Edwards used were horryfying image such as a spider held by the angry god on the fire. He asserts that the contemporary society starts to become lazy in beliving Christianity, which eventually bring the exact opposite of happiness. Althoguh the heavenly figure of the God doesn't appear in the sermon, the pursuit of happiness is implied through the opposite description, which coerces the listeners to pursue happiness through benign god.
How to Breathe Under Water by Julie Orringer
Care
Tessa is a drug addict and dependent on Devvie and Sally (Drug). Since she had an isolated background, neglected by her parents often tiems, the drug is only hope and joy for Tessa. The story consists of two main characters: Tessa and her nephew, Olivia. Tessa describes her role as an adult to Olivia however, she constantly looks for Devvie and Sally instead of taking care of Olivia. she attempts to abandon her drugs at the end of the novel to recover her life. Nevertheless, only thing that makes her happy is by taking the drugs; thus, she couldn't resist the temptation and digs into the dirt to find them back.
Stars of the Motown Shining Bright
Jack Jacob tries to pursue happiness by having sexual relationships. When he brings both Melissa and Lucy to his house, he wants to “get down” and “have fun together”. For Lucy, possessing a gun is what brings her happiness. Throughout the story, she experiences other people controlling her life. Jack indeed uses her for physical desire; however, the gun gives her authority to control other people. She gets this sense of power which eventually drives Jack to incarcerate in his closet.
Smoothest way is full of stones
through the book Essence of Persimmon, Rebecca finds the world that’s outside of secular Jewish moral codes. She begins to explore the ‘outside’ where her family forbids. For instance, her parents tell Rebecca not to go swmming in the lake due to perhaps revealing sexual images, Rebecca finds herself in the water without her clothes on. She, in fact, swims freely in the water without trapped by her family’s moral code. She pursues happiness through her independence.
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
In Middle Passage, by Charles Johnson, Rutherford Calhoun pursues happiness by fleeing New Orleans. He feels that he would be happier without Isadora in his life, so he sneaks himself onto the Republic. The majority of Middle Passage has to do with taking happiness away from people. The Republic’s goal is to capture the Allmuseri and take them into slavery. This will take the freedom away from the Allmuseri. No one is happy in this story and they have tremendous difficulty pursuing their happiness because they are stuck in their own little world on the Republic.
Deadman's Cellphone by Sarah Ruhl
Dwight and Jean both pursue happiness in Dead Man’s Cell Phone, by Sarah Ruhl. Dwight finds in Jean the person that he loves and he goes all out for her. He also has a job at the paper store that he is extremely happy with. Jean pursues love with both Gordon and Dwight. She falls in love with the image she has of Gordon. In her life before the story begins, Jean has not had much companionship and as a result she is drawn to Gordon because she does not actually know him so she can create her own image of him. She later falls in love with Dwight because he actually cares about her. Mrs. Gottlieb also pursues happiness by throwing herself into the fire so that she can be with Gordon.
Story of an Hour
The woman in this story begins her pursuit of happiness when she looks out the window and feels newfound freedom now that her husband is dead. While alone in her room, she comes to the realization that not being bound by marriage is what she truly wants. Although she may have subconsciously known this earlier, now that her husband is gone, she fully understands how relieved she feels to be independent.
The Storm
The woman in the Storm also has pursues illicit happiness when concealed by the storm. However, in this story, it is evident that she can only give in to what she wants when no one knows. Therefore, she must pretend that she truly only cares about her family and that she would never cheat on her husband. Although she appears to be happy and relieved when her family finally comes home, we see that there is another side of her that wishes she could escape that routine for a while.