Summary Of What Is Happiness By John Ciardi

In the essay titled “What is Happiness?” author John Ciardi deals with the interminable task of defining happiness. He discusses the true meaning of happiness and how many Americans rely on material things for happiness. He highlights how commercials and advertising contribute to our unhappiness when we are unable to satisfy the desires these commercials create. He points out that there is no fixed definition of happiness and it varies from person to person. Ciardi uses location to demonstrate the variation in how people define happiness. He tells us that westerners are under the illusion that happiness can be bought. Easterners perceive happiness as achieving perfection. However people may define happiness, Ciardi claims the real goal is the

pursuit of happiness not just happiness on it’s own. He states that,“ happiness is neither in having nor being but in becoming. ”Ciardi emphasizes that it means much more to strive to accomplish our own happiness rather than easily accomplishing it. Ciardi uses indirect characterization to express several definitions of happiness in order to convince Americans that it takes effort to attain happiness.