the two readings that i am writing about are the story of an hour, by Kate Chopin and hills like white elephants by Ernest Hemingway. these two stories have very different methods of expression towards happiness.
the first short story was about a women that was told her husband had died in a train accident. the women at first appeared to be weeping for the lose of her husband but turned out to be because she was feeling overjoyed that she was free. the women said even though she loved her husband at times, she still felt as though he was taking her life in a way, she felt free because she would be able to live for herself rather than devote her life to husband or marriage. the happiness felt by Louise was derived from a tragedy so it can be considered somewhat selfish.
the second story, hills like white elephants has a different way of achieving a sense of happiness. this story is about a couple on a train to get an abortion done. the women in this story almost seems to be the opposite of Louise. where Louise received joy in a selfish fashion, the death of her husband, jig was more concerned over whatever her husband wanted of her. this need to please her husband made jig’s appear sort of immature but selfless.
these two women have little in common other than the fact that they are both wives. Louise received happiness in a selfish manner which makes me wonder if that means it is genuine, or if jig’s happiness was genuine because all she was doing was trying to make her husband happy. is this just being content?
