Esther’s Key to Happiness // Braylan Stringfellow

     While reading through Chapter XXXVI, there was one thing that Esther was saying to herself that caught my eye. She says, “Esther, if you are to be happy, if you are to have any right to pray to be true-hearted, you must keep your word, my dear” (Dickens 444). That’s a thought I’ve never had. She tells herself that if she wants to be happy then she needs to keep her word. The more I thing about that the more I have to agree with her. Typically, if someone were asked what they have to do to be happy, things like hanging out with friends or shopping or playing game would be what they say; I would say some of the same things. However, Esthers answer is holding a moral standard for herself. 

    The one thing she does say to be happy is keeping her word but stretching this to being as moral, honest person provides a more complete picture to being happy, especially as a christian. In my own experience, I find that I am the happiest overall in my life is when I am doing what God says to do and not doing what God says not to do. When I am doing the opposite is when I am the most miserable. I think that Esther is definitely on to something on how to be happy.


I commented on Emmett’s and Lily’s post

Comments

  1. Emma LandryNovember 8, 2021 at 4:04 PM

    I think that this is a remarkable sentiment for a woman as young as herself to hold. Even though girls around her are commonly known to find happiness in obtaining a marriage partner (Caddy successfully and Ada less so), Esther focuses on achieving happiness for herself by being totally honest with other people. It is fascinating that she has a solid understanding of the merit of putting others above oneself at such a young age. Even though she does have some interest in Allan Woodcourt, pursuing him is her last priority. I think that is admirable and selfless.
    -Emma Landry

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  2. Raygan BosterNovember 8, 2021 at 7:19 PM

    I see a lot of emotional maturity in this statement. A lot of people focus on making everyone else happy which can lead to not holding up on your word in order to appease the crowd or participating in things that don't help you whatsoever. I love that what keeps her happy is holding herself to a high standard and staying true to what is right, instead of catering to everyone else's feelings and opinions.

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  3. Taylor ViceNovember 8, 2021 at 7:38 PM

    Esther never seems to do things for the sake of her own happiness. Her main goal is to make sure the people around her are taken care of, and while this is a remarkable trait to have, I feel that she will never achieve true happiness for herself as long as she keeps putting herself last. It may seem as if she is happy doing all of these things for others, but I feel as if it will eventually be so pent up inside of her that she will no longer be able to take it. // Taylor Vice

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  4. Breanna PooleNovember 9, 2021 at 8:12 AM

    This statement that Esther makes also stood out to me. To have moral standing as part of something that creates happiness is fairly important to happiness, as creates this kind of...clear conscience? As someone who suffers from intrusive thoughts that cause me to wonder if I acted in a morally upright way constantly (regardless of if I have or not), having a clear conscience causes you to feel more at peace. And as a Christian, we should always try to go what God wants us to do, which is act in a moral way that cause us to be symbol for Christ. --Breanna Poole

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