Happiness In The Works Of Pope, Swift, And Samuel Johnson

Happiness is a reoccurring central theme discussed in the works of 18th century writers Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Samuel Johnson. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment, as well as a pleasurable or satisfying experience. Happiness is often complicated to define or achieve because its obtainment is based on multiple factors, such as: health, money, social standing, career success, and scientifically, chemical balance. Despite it’s complications, happiness is essential to human existence, so much that its pursuit is a God-given right according to the Declaration of Independence of 1776. Pope, Swift, and Johnson define happiness and its acquisition differently, however, they share some similar

Happiness is essential for humanity and for this reason, is a life-long driver of our choices and actions. Pope suggests that all of our actions are a result of seeking to acquire happiness, which has many names, such as feeling good, pleasured, at ease, or content. Happiness and the desire for happiness drives a lot of our actions that allow us to continue living when our situations are not ideal, or encourages dangerous/risky behavior with the belief that the end result will be happiness. Like the other writers, he also emphasizes this difficulty of acquiring happiness when he says, “still so near us, yet beyond us lies” (Pope, lines 4-5). However, unlike Johnson who will be discussed later, he believes happiness to be attainable, while still acknowledging that happiness is not the easiest to come by. Furthermore, Pope establishes that happiness is not just an individual pursuit but also, a communal pursuit. He shares this view with both Swift and Johnson, who also believe that happiness is a social pursuit. He says:

Remember, Man, ‘the universal cause

Acts not by partial, but by general laws,

And makes what happiness we justly