Author Archives: tommy.kiraikos
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response paper 4:(option 2)
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?
best in show (response paper 3)
best in show the comedy film of an documentary of a dog show and its odd contestants. after watching best in show i cant help but wonder who really left the the mayflower dog show happier than before they arrived. the contestants all differed radically and different things made them happy. but all shared one common joy which was their dogs.
this mockumentary focused on the almost irrational devotion that dog show contestants apply to their dogs and amplified it. i questioned how people could find enjoyment in over-concerning themselves with pampering a dog. one of the couples actually strained their relationship because of the amount of care the had for their dog. i believe what made the film funny was the response or i should say the lack of a response from the dogs after all the affection they received.
as for how this relates to the topic of happiness, you have to look at these characters before and after the contest and you will noticed that they all left happier than when they entered, at least thats what i took from it. i believe that the main prospect of the film which was the competition was an example of what we all think we want. but if you noticed the couple that did the worst at the dog show, came to some sort of realization and ended up the happiest. this is an example of happiness being simple and also easy to actually achieve.
