THIS IS IN ESSAY FORMAT AND WE'LL NEED TO CHANGE IT INTO A DISCUSSION STYLE

1. The play begins in medias res with Eulpides and Pisthetyros fleeing from the city of Athens which they have gotten sick of. Like many other people, they are yearning for a Eutopia where they do not have to deal with the problems of money, corruption, ignorance, and pollution. We do not know what had caused their unhappiness or how they came to this decision. After reading the play and examining the characters we were unsure whether the two heroes made the right decision for themselves. Did they consider all their options first? Did they recognize a true problem? Did they reexamine themselves as individuals?

As we discuss the characters we find that their true happiness may lie within themselves. Of course, we must acknowledge that there is no real way of telling from the information given. However, if the two heroes had tried to change their circumstances, had examined themselves for flaws, or had taken an active role to adapt to their surroundings, and if all these options had failed them, THEN we agree that running away was the proper thing to do.

One last theory we had was that the characters problems didn't exist externally, but were inside all along. This is evidenced by the dystopia they create even though they live in such a seemingly perfect place. Maybe they cannot adapt to their environment and their standards are too high.

2. We defined "the happy life" as an everlasting process. A process that is filled with challenges and goals. We came to an agreement that happiness is the active pursuit of goals while overcoming, both external and internal, obstacles. We realize that failure is part of the process of happiness and that there are many ways to overcome adversities. Part of this ongoing process is the wisdom, experience, and knowledge gained from these challenges. This wisdom/experience aids a person in pursuing further happiness.

One idea that posed interest was whether immediate happiness or long term happiness was more worthwhile. For example, if someone has 200 dollars and can either spend it on something for themselves or they can spend it on something for their children, which one is better? Is the gratification of giving to your children more "happy" than the satisfaction of gaining something for yourself? I believe that there must always be balance in the different ways that one gains happiness.

For true happiness one must achieve goals and constantly improve themselves as a person. Although this must be balanced with temporary joys as well. Happiness can come in many different forms for different people. Some may choose to accumulate wealth in order to live a comfortable life, thereby achieving happiness. Some may choose to give to others and in so doing gain good consciousness, thereby also achieving happiness. Whatever the means for achieving happiness is, it must always be balanced with other factors of life.

Happiness, after all, is not the only aspect of life that must be achieved or worked on. There is virtue, morality, comfort, contentment, spirituality, education, love, etc. All these are a part of happiness. And when we talk about happiness we must not draw it too black and white. Happiness is a process connected to so many aspects of our lives. How we manage it may be different, but we must keep our lives balanced by constantly reexamining ourselves and improving ourselves.