Beloved and Happiness

It seems almost taboo to discuss Beloved in the spirit of happiness. However, I would argue that there are moments of happiness in this novel, whether they are self-manufactured or based on a weak support. These moments are therefore fleeting.

Denver feels happiness when Beloved first comes to 124 because she has a companion. Her sister has finally returned to keep her company and to love her. Then, that day on the frozen pond when Beloved chokes Sethe, Denver begins to realize that her original happiness towards Beloved was possibly incorrect because she may want to hurt Sethe. When Beloved begins to take advantage of Sethe and becomes demanding of everything Sethe has, the happiness Denver feels towards Beloved is very diminished. I think to an extent, Denver still loves Beloved but she just doesn't understand why she has taken such a turn for the worse. She doesn't understand Beloved's actions yet yearns for the normalcy that she thought Beloved would bring.

Sethe too feels this immediate happiness towards Beloved and believes that Beloved will truly enrich her life. When their relationship becomes one of dependence rather than equal cooperation, Sethe feels again enslaved in the actions of another. This time though, she doesn't have the strength to overcome the chains Beloved places on her because of the immense guilt she feels about Beloved's death. Beloved allows her to feel guilty with no hope of atonement. Her happiness is again fleeting because it was based on the false notion that Beloved would be a benefit in their lives. The true moments of happiness for Sethe were the times that Paul D was there; first when he returned in the beginning and then again when she went crazy at the end and he was there again. Morrison is showing that we must be selective in the moments that we choose to be happy about.

This is the first novel in which the idea that you can create your own happiness has been challenged. Morrison creates such tragically beautiful characters that she doesn't allow for them to create their own real happiness. It's either that she doesn't let them or they are too burdened by their other worries that they cannot attempt to create happiness.

The Stranger Post

When I first began reading The Stranger, I was incredibly upset at the book as a whole. Mersault's apathetic attitude to EVERYTHING drove me up the wall. It wasn't until we got into our small groups for concept mapping and we learned a little about Camus's past that I began to actually understand his character. He is merely a product of the society in which we live, and he feeds on the opinions of other people. He is only apathetic because he feels like no matter what, our lives will be meaningless. However, I think that when he is in the prison is when he discovers his mode of happiness. Very seldom does he actually use the word "happy" throughout the novel, but when he does, he is talking about memories of certain places or about Marie. When he is in the prison and he actually has time to think to himself about his life and what he did, he doesn't really feel guilty for the murder that he committed, but he is very upset at the thougths that people have about him for committing it. He is so dependent on the opinions of other people that he prevents his own happiness. It's ironic really because he doesn't do anything to change the opinions that people have of him, but he wishes for better opinions. His character proves that each person determines his or her own happiness in the world and yet other people impact our happiness just as much, even though we shouldn't let them. This book was utterly brilliant in so many ways and uncovered so many truths about humanity that otherwise would have lain dormant in the minds of this AP Literature class.

Metamorphosis and Happiness

In Kafka's short novel, Metamorphosis, he absolutely addresses the idea of self-created happiness. Gregor believed himself to be happy when he was working for his family's income. It was the thing that he knew how to do best and he liked having a constant something in his life. However, when he went through his metamorphosis, he realized that working at his job did not provide him happiness and he couldn't manufacture it just by helping his family.
I think his metamorphosis was in some ways a relief to him because he finally felt that he could figure out what he was really supposed to do. He was still the same person (fundamentally) and still enjoyed the things he had previously, such as art and his sister's violin playing. Gregor expected that after all he had given to his family over the years, they would help him in any and all ways possible after this difficult transformation, however, they basically tossed him aside to fend for himself. In that regard, Kafka shows that even though we may take the right steps to happiness, we cannot always create it for ourselves.
Kafka goes even further in this assertion by causing Gregor's death. Gregor realizes that he has become a burden on his family and he no longer wishes to create such stress. Though he was under the impression that they loved him, he suddenly realizes that their love did not go any further than their pocketbooks. It's a bold assertion on humanity that causes us to really wonder if working hard for our families and loving them will really ever be enough if we need them just as much one day. It certainly says something about the importance of trusting or not trusting the people around us.