What is happiness?

In the text, Fences, happiness is based on an individual and how they want to live their life. For example Troy feels like he does everything for the family, keeps a roof over their head, provides the food they eat and the clothes they wear and because  of this he feels like the “happiness” that he has now is not enough and that’s why the incident with Troy becoming a father. Troy feels like after all that he has gone through and did that he deserves happiness and he’s getting it from someone else, not Rose. Troy obviously doesn't care about Rose or his sons feelings, he’s being selfish and only worrying about his own happiness. “It’s just…She gives me a different idea…a different understanding about myself. I can step out of this house and get away from pressures and problems…be a different man. I ain't got to wonder how I’m gonna pay the bills or get the roof fixed. I can just be a part of myself that I ain't never been” (pg 68-69). That quote right there proves that Troy is sick of being unhappy and wants to better himself and his life based on his own happiness, no one else’s.

Society presents happiness as an essential. Life without happiness is not something that anyone wants. If you’re not genially happy then everything you do is pretty much pointless. Everyone has different ways of achieving their happiness and no I don’t think it’s over glamorized at all. Every day people wake up and hope to be in a good mood and be happy, if you aren't then your day is not going to go well. A simple compliment can brighten someone’s day, it doesn't take much. In the text Fences, and in society the idea of happiness overlaps because everyone’s still seeking and hoping it will come to them. What people fail to realize is that happiness doesn't just happen overnight, you have to go out and do things that actually make you happy. Sometimes you being happy may result in others getting hurt but that’s life and everything happens for a reason.