the happy man essay

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“The Happy Man” by Naguib Mahfouz

Word count: 1148
Category: College Example Short Story

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Naguib Mahfouz started writing when he was seventeen years old and is now respected throughout Arabic writing. Such as novels “The Children of Gebelawi (1959), Small Talk on the Nile (1966), and Miramar (1967). He often uses allegory and symbolism in his stories to address concerns. Mahfouz won the Noble Prize for literature in 1988. (Born Cairo, Egypt 1911)

Plot Summary

“The Happy Man” is a about a man who wakes up one morning and finds himself “inconceivably happy”. He has no idea why or how this happened and is shocked because of how he usually feels when he wakes up in the mornings. “This was distinctly peculiar when compared with the state he was usually in when he woke up” (pg. 235) He finds himself talking to people he generally never talks to such as his servant “Uncle” Bashir. He then finds himself talking to his worst rival who he has constant conflicts with. He addresses and talks to him though as if they were best friends. “Good Morning! He said without feeling any compunction.” (pg.237) His rival is shocked by how much different the man has changed and asks if his son has returned from Canada. “I bet your dear son has changed his mind about staying in Canada?! He asked…But that was the principle reason for being so sad.” (pg.237) We then learn that his wife had passed and the thought of her makes him laugh.

This leads the reader to believe that the happy man was grieving for the loss of his wife and son and has stated to lose his mind causing him to be happy. He then attends to different doctors and specialists, all of who tell him that he is in perfect health. The last doctor, who is a psychiatrist who tells him that he has patients like him and that he should have two sessions a week. This caused the happy man to burst out in laughter and ends the story.

Literary Devices

Irony: * The title itself is ironic. “The Happy Man” in the story isn’t actually happy at all. He has suffered from grief, which has caused him to lose his mind. This had caused him to change his personality and to be happy all the time. This leads to have to see numerous doctors.

* It is ironic that he claims to be inconceivably happy yet he questions it. He asks his servant if he is happy. “Tell me, “Uncle” Bashir, am I a happy man?” (pg.236) The man’s happiness then scares him and makes him go see doctors. “ I haven’t come to see you because I’m ill but because I’m happy!” (pg.240)

Hyperbole: * “His heart was overflowing with love for people, animals and things, and with an all-engulfing sense of optimism and joy.” This is an exaggeration to show how “happy” the main character is. (pg.235) * “Even more important than that, and something he could not analyze, it was a feeling which penetrated to every cell of his body and soul; it played a tune full of delight, pleasure, serenity, and peace, and hummed in its incredible melodies the whispering sound of the world, which is denied to the unhappy.” Once again the author uses this quote to show how “happy” the main character is. (pg.235) * “If it did, man would be turned into an angel or something even higher.” (pg.235) * “Weather to fill your heart with happiness.” (pg.237) * “…the psychiatrist continued quietly, ‘you dissolved into laughter?…’” (pg.242) * “He approached him with a pure and carefree heart, feeling drunk with his incredible happiness.” (pg.237)

Personification: * “…and hummed in its incredible melodies the whispering sound of the world, which is denied to the unhappy.” (pg.235) This is personification because the author is giving human like qualities (in this case whispering) to an inanimate object. (in this case the world)

Allusion: * “How could he possibly write about a trolley bus falling into the Nile when he was so intoxicated by this frightening happiness?” (pg.239) The allusion in this quote is the “Nile”. The Nile is one of the largest rivers in the world that runs through Africa.

Repetition: * Though out the story there are many references to drugs and alcohol, which could symbolize a way for the “happy” man to overcome his grief. * “He felt drunk with ecstasy.” (pg.235) * “Feeling drunk with his incredible happiness.” (pg.237) * “He was so intoxicated by this frightening happiness?” (pg.239) * “Haven’t you been taking drugs, alcohol, or tranquilizers?” (pg.240) Simile:

* “You fight bitterly, as though any problem is a matter of life and death!” (pg.238)

Humour: * “He remembered his wife’s death…which prompted a smile and then even provoked laughter. He could not stop himself laughing, and there he was guffawing, ha . . .ha . . . ha!” (pg.239) This is also an example of imagery.

Narrative Elements

Point of View: * The point of view in the story “The Happy Man” is third person. It is writing with an all-knowing narrator.

Mood/Tone/Atmosphere: * The mood and tone of the story is fast paced and happy until he realizes that he needs to see a doctor. This makes the mood and tone depressing when the reader learns that the “happy” man is crazy as a result of his wife’s death and his son moving to Canada.

Overall Message

* I think that the overall message of the story is that things aren’t always, as they seem. In this case the main character in the story looked like he was happy. He even though he was happy when really he was dealing with his grief in his own way which caused him to become paranoid and seek help. This is ironic because the story is called “The Happy Man”. “He woke up in the morning and discovered that he was happy.” (pg.235) He didn’t know why he was happy because he was usually sad or in a bad mood. “I bet your dear son has changed his mind about staying in Canada” “But that was the principle reason for being so sad….” (pg.237) This shows that he is lonely. “He remembered his wife’s death…” (pg.239) This shows that he has been grieving and the fact that he started laughing at the though of his late wife shows that he has started to lose his mind. “We should have two sessions a week, I think?” “He started guffawing loudly….” This shows that he doesn’t even realize that he has a problem and that he is crazy. This shows that things aren’t always, as they seem.

1) Find other literary devices.

2) Do you think that “The Happy Man” was difficult to interpret? Why or why not?

3) What was your interpretation of the story?

‘The Happy Man’

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The following is excerpted from the short story, “The Happy Man,” by Naguib Mahfouz, winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. When he woke up, he found himself happy. That was most strange compared with his habitual state of mind in the early morning. For he usually got up with a terrible headache from working late hours in his office at the newspaper, or with a hangover from too much eating and drinking at some wild party. The worries of the day before and the problems of the present day usually assailed him then, so that he dragged himself out of bed with great difficulty, trying to muster all his energy and face the troubles of life. But today he was unquestionably happy, overflowing with happiness. The feeling was so clear and intense that it imposed itself on his mind and senses. Yes, he was happy. If this was not happiness, what was it then? He felt all his organs were functioning in perfect harmony with each other and with the whole world around him. Inside him there was infinite energy and a tremendous capacity to achieve anything with great skill and confidence. And his heart was brimming with love for people, animals and things, with an overwhelming feeling of optimism, as if he had finally defeated fear, anxiety, sickness and death. Above all, there was that incomprehensible sensation which penetrated his body and soul, playing a delightful tune of joy, contentment and peace.

Intoxicated with this ecstasy, he savored it slowly and with a deep sense of wonder about its mysterious source. There was nothing in his past to explain it or in his future to justify it. How did it come? How long would it last? Oh no, this must be just a fleeting mood which could never be permanent. For if it lasted forever, man would become an angel and reach the world beyond. Let him enjoy it now, live with it, treasure it, before it became a vague memory in the distant horizon.

He ate his breakfast with great appetite, looking from time to time with a bright, smiling face at Am Beshir who was serving the food. The old man became increasingly surprised and anxious, because his master did not normally look in his direction except to give orders or ask questions. Then he said to him:

“Tell me, Am Beshir, am I a happy man?”

The man was embarrassed, since the master was for the first time addressing him as a companion or friend. After moments of uneasy silence, he replied:

“My master is happy with God’s gifts and blessings.”

“Do you mean that I must be happy with my excellent position, beautiful apartment and good health? Is this what you mean? But do you really think I am a happy man?”

“My master exerts himself beyond human endurance and often gets angry in heated discussions with other people.”

He interrupted him with a loud laugh and asked:

“What about you? Don’t you have any worries?”

“Of course. Nobody lives without worries.”

“Do you mean that perfect happiness is impossible?”

“Well, this is the nature of life.” How could Beshir, or anybody else, imagine his wonderful state of happiness? It was something strange and unique, as if it were his own private secret of all people on Earth.

In the conference room at the newspaper, he saw his greatest rival in this world turning the pages of a magazine. The man heard his footsteps but did not raise his eyes. No doubt he somehow glanced quickly but tried to ignore him for his own peace of mind. In regular meetings they often disagreed violently and exchanged the harshest words until they were on the verge of fighting. And only last week he was shamefully defeated by his rival in the union elections, which was a terrible blow to his pride that filled him with bitterness and darkened his vision. But here he was now approaching his enemy with a pure and carefree heart, intoxicated with that wonderful happiness, overflowing with tolerance and forgiveness, as if he were another man who conveyed the promise of a new friendship. And without feeling awkward, he smilingly greeted him. Taken by surprise, the man raised his eyes in wonder and for moments remained silent until he could collect himself and answer the greeting briefly, as if he did not believe his eyes and ears. He sat close to him, saying:

“The weather is gorgeous today.”

“It’s the kind of weather that fills the heart with deep happiness.” The man looked at him cautiously and intently, then mumbled:

“I am glad that you’re happy.”

He said laughingly:

“It’s happiness beyond comprehension.”

The other replied hesitantly:

“I hope that I will not spoil your mood at the meeting of the editorial board today.”

“Oh, never. My opinion is well known to everybody. But I don’t mind if the members accept your view.”

“You have changed considerably overnight.”

“In fact, I am happy beyond comprehension.”

“I bet your son has changed his mind about staying in Canada for good.”

He chuckled and said:

“No, my friend, he has not changed his decision.”

“But that was your greatest source of grief.”

“Oh, yes. I have pleaded with him again and again to come back in order to relieve my loneliness and serve his country. But he told me that he intended to start an engineering business with a Canadian partner, and even invited me to join him there. Let him live where he likes. But here I am--as you see--happy, unbelievably happy.”

“This is unique courage on your part.”

“I don’t know what it is, but I am happy in the full sense of the word.”

Yes, this was happiness, rich and touchable, firm like absolute power, free as the air, violent as a flame, fascinating as the scent of flowers. Yet this unnatural feeling could not last forever.

The other man, attracted by his friendliness, said amicably:

“In fact, I always regarded you as a man with a violent nature that caused you a good deal of suffering.”

“You don’t know the meaning of compromise. You live intensely with your nerves, with your whole being, fighting fiercely as if any problem were a matter of life or death.”

He accepted this criticism tolerantly, as though it were a little wave in his infinite ocean of happiness, and with a bright smile on his face, asked:

“Then, you believe that there should be some balance in my approach to events?”

“Certainly. Take, for example, our discussion yesterday about racism. We share the same opinion, and the issue is worthy of enthusiasm to the point of anger. But what kind of anger? It should, in a sense, be intellectual, abstract anger. Not the anger that would fray the nerves, cause indigestion and raise blood pressure. Right?”

“That is very clear to me now.”

His heart would not release a single drop of its joys. Racism, Vietnam, Angola, Palestine . . . no problem could invade the fortress of happiness which surrounded his heart. Whenever he remembered a problem, his heart chuckled joyfully. It was, so to speak, a gigantic happiness, indifferent to any misery, always smiling in the face of suffering. He wished to laugh, to dance, to sing, spreading his infinite mirth over problems of the world.

Suddenly he felt that the office was too small for him; he had no desire to work. The mere thought of his daily work was treated with absolute indifference and contempt, and he failed completely to bring his mind down from the heaven of bliss. How could he write about the trolley bus which sank in the Nile, when he was intoxicated with all this terrifying happiness? Yes, it was terrifying, coming as it did from nowhere, violent to the point of exhaustion and paralyzing his will. Besides, it was now midday and the feeling still possessed him without any sign of diminishing at all. He left his papers blank on the desk and started pacing his room, laughing and snapping his fingers.

He had a moment of anxiety which did not sink deeply inside him, but floated as an abstract thought on the surface of the mind. It occurred to him to recall deliberately the tragedies of his life in order to test their effect on his present mood, hoping they might help him regain some equanimity or at least reassure him that this happiness might eventually fade away. He recreated in his memory, for example, the death of his wife with all its tragic circumstances. But the event seemed to him as a series of movements without meaning or effect, as if it happened to another woman, the wife of another man, in a remote age of ancient history. The recollection even had a pleasant effect on him so that he smiled and could not help laughing. The same thing happened when he remembered the first letter he received from his son, declaring his intention to emigrate to Canada. And when he started to review mentally the bloody tragedies of the world, his chuckles became so loud they might have been heard in the other offices or even in the street. Nothing could touch his happiness. The memories of grief floated softly like gentle waves touching the sands of the shore. Then he left his office and the whole building, without a note of apology for not attending the editorial meeting. After lunch, he went to bed for the usual nap, but felt that sleep was impossible. There was no sign of its approach in this bright, boisterous world of joy that kept him wide awake. He must have some rest and tranquility, some inertia, some numbness in his senses. But how? Finally he left his bed and started humming a tune while pacing his apartment back and forth. And he said to himself that if this state of mind and feeling lasted longer, he would become totally incapable of sleep or work or grief. It was time to go to the club, but he did not feel like meeting any of his friends. There was no sense in these endless talks about public affairs or private worries. And what would his friends think of him if they found him laughing at the most serious matters? No, he did not need anybody; he had no desire for conversation. It was essential for him to sit by himself or walk for miles to release some of this tremendous energy. He must think deeply of what happened to him. How did this fabulous happiness assault him? For how long could he carry this intolerable burden? Will this feeling deprive him forever of his work and friends, of his sleep and peace of mind? Should he yield to it and drift with the current? Or should he seek an outlet, through mental effort, strenuous work or professional advice?

He felt very lonely in the company of this overwhelming happiness, without a friend or guide to help him. Suddenly he remembered there was the office of a psychiatrist across the street. But he did not trust psychiatrists. Besides, he knew quite well that their treatment extended over long periods of time, so that they became almost constant companions of their patients. And he laughed when he remembered their method of free association to reveal the neuroses buried in the subconscious mind. While his feet were leading him to the doctor’s office, he was still laughing, especially as he visualized the man listening to his strange complaint of happiness, when he usually listened to people complaining of hysteria, depression, anxiety or schizophrenia.

“To tell you the truth, doctor, I came to you because I am happy beyond comprehension.”

And he looked at his face to see the effect of his words, but the doctor kept his calm. Hardly had he started to tell his story when the man stopped him with a gesture of his hand, and asked quietly:

“It is an overwhelming, strange, exhausting sort of happiness?”

He looked at him in amazement and was about to say something when the doctor resumed:

“It’s happiness that would make you incapable of work, tired of friends and unable to sleep. And whenever you face any suffering you burst out laughing.”

“You must be a mind-reader.”

“Oh no, nothing of this sort, but I see similar cases at least once a week.”

“Is it an epidemic?”

“I didn’t say that. I don’t even claim that I have been able, so far, to trace a single case to its original cause.”

“But it’s a disease?”

“All the cases are still under treatment.”

“But you are convinced they are all abnormal?”

“Well, in our field this is a necessary hypothesis.”

“Did you observe a sign of insanity or emotional disturbance in any of them?” he asked anxiously. And he pointed to his head in fear, but the doctor said with certainty:

“No. I assure you they are all sane in the proper sense of the word. But you will need two sessions every week. You shouldn’t worry or grieve. . . .”

Worry, grief? He smiled and the smile widened on his face until he burst out laughing. Then his resistance collapsed completely and he could not control his tears.

“The Happy Man,” by Naguib Mahfouz, from “Modern Egyptian Short Stories,” translated by Saad el-Gabalawy, York Press 1977.

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The Happy Man – Explanation, Summary – Question Answer – CHSE Odisha +2 Alternative English

The happy man.

by William Somerset Maugham

Explanation, summary with Questions and Answers for the Short Story included in the CHSE +2 Alternative English book ‘Approaches to English – II’.

Click here to download the pdfs of approaches to english i & ii free of cost., about the author.

W. Somerset Maugham(1874-19) was possibly the most prolific and the most adored novelist of his times. ‘A Happy Man’, although written as a fiction, mirrors his uncharacteristic life that saw effusive public adulation, and bouts of intense public disgust. His popularity can be gauged from the fact that there was a time when London’s four major opera houses were staging plays written by him. He was a pacifist, compassionate man, and refrained from criticizing others. In his novels too, he is rather soft towards the villains he created.

Maugham had a unhappy childhood. He lost both his parents in a very tender age, and was reared by his uncle who had a heart of stone. Despite all the setbacks in early life, he managed to qualify as a medical doctor, but fate had other things in store for him. While he was still doing his course in medicine, he wrote Liza of Lambeth that literally flew off the shelves. That success propelled Maugham to literary fame. He chose to become a writer, and gave up the career as a doctor.

Somerset Maugham’s love life was chequered, and brought him much disgrace. He lived during a time being gay was considered immoral and illegal. He had to weather public ridicule for this all his life, but he didn’t much care. He was attracted to women too, and had multiple liaisons. He cuckolded Henry Wellcome, an American tycoon by seducing his wife Syrie Wellcome. Syrie gave birth to Maugham’s daughter, Mary Elizabeth Maugham. Soon after this birth, the Wellcome couple were divorced. Maugham married Syrie. This marriage didn’t last long, and the Maughams were divorced. He worked for some time with the Red Cross as a doctor. Later in his life, Maugham toured the whole world living amidst different cultures, and societies. His experiences provided him with rich materials to weave his novels and short stories with. Towards the later part of his life, he unabashedly led a gay life with male partners.

Somerset Maugham wrote many enduring novels. ‘Of Human Bondage’, and ‘The Mon and Sixpence’ are just two of his stellar works. ‘Cakes and Alley’ and ‘The Razor’s Edge’ are his other works that enjoy universal appreciation.

In a nutshell, Maugham lived life as he felt best. He was an agnostic, and so never felt morally guilty for his romantic aberrations. For short story lovers, Maugham has a treasury of choices. The world will remain indebted to this genius for posterity.

The author was a man of extraordinary literary talent. Deep within, he was at odds with his sexual desires. Disparaging comments, and ridicule wounded his soul. However, he deflected the vilification by remaining aloof, and not venting his anger against his critics. This is one reason why he disapproved of certain people who assume the role of the conscience keepers of society. At every step, they advise others, pontificate about moral issues, and even excoriate fellow human beings for their ‘so-called’ failings. The author finds such propensity to comment on others matters to be a sign of ignorance and arrogance on the part of the person who proffers the ‘sagely sermons’. He reasons that most people do not know enough even about themselves, so it is hard to understand how they can read the minds and manners of others and suggest them the right conduct. Humans conceal a lot when they speak, and their façade almost always conceals their inner self.

Some examples to illustrate the point

Hosts in TV talk shows advise us about how to lose weight, live longer, progress in career, buy a property, bake a cake, have a nice sleep, select the right spouse etc. etc. Such advice are very general in nature, and their efficacy is doubtful. They can even prove to be misleading, and fraudulent. In their own personal lives, they could be just the opposite of what they preach. They seldom provide the panacea for our ills, and might even cause us harm. Our political leaders ask us to be honest, patriotic, hard working, and religious. In their own personal lives, they could be just the opposite. In India, we get to see Sadhus in saffron preaching to large gatherings of gullible devotees about the right ways to live ones daily lives. Almost all of these Sadhus have been found to be utterly hideous, and deviant human beings. Some of them are serving jail sentences after their true self unraveled.

Somerset Maugham, therefore claims that giving advice to others is an undesirable trait, especially when the advice giver does not know enough about themselves. Somerset Maugham found it true for his own self. once confessed about his own sexual orientation saying, “I tried to persuade myself that I was three-quarters normal and that only a quarter of me was queer—whereas really it was the other way around.”

With this understanding about his own self, Maugham assumed that most of us have little sense of what we actually are. With such ignorance, how can one advise others, when most humans rarely reveal their inner self through their manners and speaking?

The summary of the story

The author lived in a small flat near Victoria Station. in London. One afternoon, a stranger came calling to him. He was received courteously by the author. After some exchange of pleasantries, the visitor opened up about his life. He was a doctor working in the Chamberlin Infirmity. He was brought up by his two aunts. He had been married for six years, but had no children. The man appeared confused and bored with his repetitive job in the infirmary. The doctor asked the author if he could go and settle in Spain instead. He fancied Spain. The job at the infirmary, though high-paying, appeared to him to be a dead end. He asked if he could go and settle in Serville where he could earn just enough to make both ends meet. His wife was willing too to relocate, said the doctor.

The author paused for while and said that he could go if the pleasure of Serville outweighed the prospect of a drop in his earning. The visitor felt relieved and left.

Years rolled by. The author never remembered much about this strange encounter. The occasion came for the author to go to Serville. After reaching there, he checked into a hotel. He was possibly a sight indisposed. He wanted to see a doctor. He gathered the address of an English doctor in Serville from a hotel assistant, hired a taxi, and left for the address. On reaching there, he found the doctor coming out for some business of his own.

The doctor was overly delighted to see the author. The latter couldn’t place him, because he had forgotten about the earlier encounter. After his examination and tests were over, the author rose to pay the fees, but the doctor was not willing to accept any fees. On the contrary, he expressed his profound gratitude to the author for having been instrumental in his decision to come to Serville. The doctor narrated how happy he was in Serville. The decision to migrate was as a result of the author’s advice. He disclosed that his wife had gone back to England. There was another man in the house, found the author. The shifting to Serville had brought him the joy he had cherished, said the doctor jubilantly. Thus, the author’s intuitive advice had proved to be right.

Section I : Questions for discussion

1. Why has the narrator always hesitated to give advice? Answer – The narrator is convinced that most individuals are ignorant about themselves. In other words, one is unsure about the correctness of one’s moral beliefs, political opinions, views on social matters etc. With such ignorance, one can’t lay claim to the ability to preach to others in the society.

2. “Each one of us is a prisoner in a solitary town” How does the statement reflect on human life? Answer – One’s inner self is ensconced in one’s body. The inner self never gets out of this confine to explore what lies outside. So, one is a prisoner in one’s self. Such seclusion breeds ignorance and life remains a domain of intrigue. When drowned in such depth of incomprehensibility, man can only assume that he lives in a solitary town.

3. Does the paragraph 1 lead to the story. Where do you find the connection? Answer – The paragraph 1 introduces the reader to the intrinsic fallibility of humans. It also shows that humans are bound by fate, and no matte all the claims of wisdom, a human being flounders, often at the start of life. Thus, the reader is initiated to the complex subject of the essay.

4. Why did Stephans meet the narrator? What made him do so? Answer – Stephans had called on Maugham in the latter’s house in London. Stephan wanted to learn more about the book on Spain that Maugham had written.

5. What impression you form about Stephens from his account of life at Camberwell? Is he a happy man? Answer – Stephan is a bewildered young man who does not practice law despite having a law degree. He is unhappy with his life and looks forward to escaping the pain and suffering his life has kept in store for him.

6. Why does he want to go to Spain? Answer – The place has plenty of sunshine, lovely weather, and healthy air. Its balmy weather attracts the speaker.

7. Would you call him a romantic? Give reasons for your answer. Answer – The author has a non-serious, joyful approach towards life. He loves to wander around and has very little inclination to settle down and earn money,

8. What does the narrator suggest to Stephan finally? Answer – The narrator recommends that Stephan should go to Spain to fulfill his desire to live a contented life.

9. Can you guess what would happen next in the story? Answer – The duo could meet accidentally.

Section II : Questions for discussion

1. What change in place in place and time do you find in this section of the story? Answer – The plot has shifted to Seville in Spain where the author has gone on a sojourn.

2. Why does Stephens refuse to accept fees from the narrator? Do his words acknowledge his gratitude for the right suggestion of the narrator given to him years ago? Answer – The narrator’s advice to Stephens had a profound influence on the latter’s life. Heeding the advice, he had shifted to Spain to lead a life on his own terms. Stephens led a happy life there. He, therefore, had a high regard for the author’s wisdom and philosophy. Quite naturally, he refused to accept any fees from the author as a mark of gratitude towards him.

3. What impression would you get about Stephens from his changed appearance in Spain? Answer – Stephen appears to be a man who loved solitude and detachment from worldly pleasures so sought by common people. He was a noble soul, who didn’t like to be entangled in life’s twists and turns.

4. In which context does Stephen say : ‘Life is full of compensations’? What light does it throw on his character? Answer – Stephens’s wife had deserted him, apparently unable to adjust to his rather unusual temperament. Such an event would easily devastate any ordinary man. However, Stephens took the loss of his wife in his own stride and began to enjoy his lonely life. This happiness was a ‘compensation’ he received for the loss of his spouse. This explains his comment.

5. Does the concluding passage reveal an attitude towards life? What kind of attitude would you call it? Answer – The last paragraph reveals Stephens’s detachment from materialistic pleasures of life. He emerges as a person with no passion for money, and as someone who can draw satisfaction from a frugal life style.

6. Where does happiness lie in the words of the protagonist? Answer – ‘Voluntarily staying out of the ‘rate race’ for wealth, fame, and recognition yields enduring contentment,’ felt the protagonist. He was convinced that raising a family was not an essential component of a truly happy life.

7. Does the narrator favour a life of emancipation from the conventionalities and stereotypes? Give a reasoned answer. Answer – The narrator is convinced that being embroiled in mundane activities and chasing wealth and eminence can prove to be toxic for a person who abhors the ‘at race’ of the worldly existence. He feels that emancipation drives away the craziness and hassles from a person’s life. Chasing wealth and influence is an never-ending pursuit that jars one’s life and soul. So, detachment from conventional life style could open the doors to a peaceful and composed life on earth.

8. Which one of the following do you find in Stephens that most appropriately characterizes him? (a) a cynical attitude (b) a pleasure-loving temperament (c) morbidity born of frustrations (d) quest for freedom from conventions. Answer – The answer is (d) –a quest for freedom from conventions.

9. Can you guess what would happen if his wife had not deserted him? Answer – Possibly, their lives would have been embittered by discord and disharmony. Both would have faced frustration and disillusionment.

10. Can you call him ‘The Happy Man’? Give reasons for your answer. Answer – It’s a tricky question because ‘happiness’ is a relative term. For most people, Stephens led an erratic life with no concrete goal. Only a tiny number of people, he lived a life of fulfillment and true happiness.

[Composition answers on request with word count]

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Happy Story / The Happy Man Hy Naguib Mahfouz: The Consequences Of Persistent Happiness

The Happy Man Hy Naguib Mahfouz: The Consequences Of Persistent Happiness

Category: Life
Topic: Happy Story

Pages: 2 (826 words)

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