Happy the Man Essay Questions

How does “Happy the Man” explore the notion of time?

Time is linear in “Happy the Man”—clearly divided into the past, present, and future—yet the speaker argues that one must not be fixated upon time in its entirety. Of the different phases in time, the present is clearly the one that matters most; the poem denounces both excessive fear of the future and unhealthy obsessions with the past. With regards to the future, the happy man in this poem is one who, first, accepts that the future may present both positive and negative experiences—that tomorrow it may “rain” or “shine”—and then moves beyond this acceptance towards a higher degree of confidence before the uncertainties of the future—challenging “Tomorrow” to a battle, confident that one will win no matter what the future may present.

The poem then addresses the past, which, according to the speaker, is something that no one, not even the divine, can alter or control to anyone’s favor. “[W]hat has been, has been,” and the past is a fixed entity that must be an object of gratitude rather than that of regret, shame, or disappointment. The speaker focuses on “[his] hour,” and performs a celebration of the past and its blessings rather than a critique or denial of it.

Time in “Happy the Man,” ultimately, is something that can be received with a variety of different attitudes, and one’s experience of life may depend on the way one casts a positive or negative view upon a certain period, or the way one focuses on one period over another.

Do you agree with Dryden’s (Horace’s) definition of the “happy man”? Why or why not?

Proponents of Dryden’s (and Horace’s) argument in “Happy the Man” would agree that the ingredients of happiness are: gratitude for, and acceptance towards, one’s past; confidence about one’s present; and a fearless and bold attitude towards one’s future. Maintaining a stable sense of positivity and courage regardless of the caprices of life may grant one the power to push through difficult times.

A reader might, however, have a definition of happiness that is drastically different from that presented in this poem. For some, looking back on the past, rather than simply moving on from it, and making a constant effort to rectify past mistakes, may be a way of seeking meaning and happiness in the present. For others, the future may be the only source of happiness—dejected by the past and present, one might endlessly wait for one’s glorious “hour” to come, and may not have the strength to confront “tomorrow’s worst.” Different people in different circumstances may have different readings of the poem’s message.

One may also argue that the poem promotes a sense of unhealthy optimism, and that it dismisses the human need for healing and self-reflection. Can one so easily declare that “what has been, has been,” when one’s life has been battered by traumas uncured and untreated? Is the argument of “Happy the Man” challenged by modern studies of psychology, therapy, and human well-being? Or, is Dryden’s suggestion to “look on the bright side” a timeless message that modern readers must heed to as well?