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Kelly Nadeau

Professor Corri Ditch

English 115

22 October 2018

The Nature of Happiness

Genuine happiness is a privilege experienced by a select few characters in Mary Ann

Shaffer and Annie Barrow’s epistolary novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie

Society. The novel takes place post-World War II, and follows the characters, in their quest to

resume a sense of normalcy in their lives, while grappling with their grief. Specifically, the

characters, Juliet Ashton and Remy Giraud’s, jubilant mentalities prevail in wake of tragedy. In

the mist of recovering from post-traumatic stress, Remy Giraud triumphs in putting the pieces of

her life back together, while she lays the groundwork to achieve happiness. Juliet Ashton

discovers happiness in the multitude of friendships she constructs with the inhabitants of

Guernsey. It is through Juliet’s growth mindset and ability to provide the citizens of Guernsey a

voice, that she is able to feel happiness, in helping others. This pair of valiant women display

their happiness as they interact with other characters, while they strive to achieve their goals

despite the grim post-WWII era that is the context of this true-to-life fictional narrative.

The contemplative, reserved Remy Giraud, demonstrates an unconventional

happiness. She pioneers a unique sense of inner peace through the myriad of friendships she

fosters with the Guernsey residents. The reader is introduced to Remy through a letter she writes

addressed to any member of the book society. In the letter, Remy depicts the inconceivable,

utterly appalling conditions she suffered every waking moment during her time at Ravensbruck

concentration camp. Remy recounts in vivid description, “the beds were on wooden shelves,
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built in platforms of three… pallets of straw to sleep upon, sour smelling and alive with fleas and

lice” (Shaffer and Barrows 179). Remy’s account of the conditions at Ravensbrook as well as,

witnessing the execution of her dear friend Elizabeth McKenna would be categorized by author

Matthieu Ricard as “visible suffering” (Ricard 36). According to Ricard, “visible suffering is

everywhere” (Ricard 36). Remy’s duration at the concentration camp ultimately became a

perfect storm of suffering, enabling her to develop post-traumatic stress. However, Remy’s post-

traumatic stress does not prevent her from forming friendships with the people of Guernsey, via

the letter. Remy’s letter illustrates Ricard’s point that “The essential thing is to be available to

others without giving into despair when the natural episodes of life and death follow their

course” (Ricard 37). Ricard advocates for individuals to take the necessary actions, which Remy

did, by extending themselves towards a collective supportive outreach, making their experiences

shared not suppressed, or ignored. Ricard encourages individuals to seek comfort in one another,

just as Remy found solace in the stories of the people of Guernsey. As a result of her suffering,

the nature of Remy’s happiness has changed from visible laughter and smiles to a more reserved

expression. In the end, Remy does not allow her suffering to define her.

Remy’s suffering paved the path for her to find happiness in her friendships with the

people of Guernsey. Although a fictional character, Remy’s reaction to seek friendship has been

scientifically proven to bring joy to one’s life. In a study by Harvard University, researchers

found that “embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier” (Harvard 2007). Remy

feels a sense of longing to meet the people Elizabeth McKenna chronicles in her stories about the

literary potato peel pie society of Guernsey; thus, she felt called to be part of a collective group

of people that will support her in her fight for happiness and normalcy. The study revealed, “The

surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a
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powerful influence on our health”(Harvard 2007). It is clearly evident that the suffering Remy

underwent at the concentration camp took a extensive toll on her mental health. By embracing

the community of Guernsey, Remy shows great progress in achieving lasting happiness. Inspired

by the community’s encouragement, Remy, gathers enough mental strength to leave Guernsey

and pursue her dream of becoming a chef. The support and confidence that Remy receives from

her friendships on Guernsey allow her to thrive, and enables her to relocate to France and

become an apprentice.

Although Remy gains an abundance of friends when she lands on Guernsey, readers may

challenge the idea that Remy is happy, by insisting that her post traumatic stress prevents her

happiness, but it is evident that Remy is content. It is true that Remy’s post-traumatic stress has

serious repercussions on her daily life. However, Remy’s happiness is not an overjoyed

expression, rather Remy signaturly possesses inner contentment. The induction of Remy into the

Guernsey literary society, in addition to her new-found determination to become a pastry chef

clearly allude to her inner peace and contentment. Remy’s happiness is not an outright

abundance of smiles and laughter because of the scars immortalized in her mind at Ravensbruck,

Remy is a more reserved and contemplative individual. Remy’s quiet demeanor was ingrained in

her personality as a result of her time at Ravensbruck. Evidence of Remy’s happiness is apparent

in the progress she makes toward seeking a name for herself, and not allowing her stint at

Ravensbruck define her. Remy’s posttraumatic stress enables her to have a grateful demeanor

that propels her towards happy state. The stress Remy undergoes makes her realize the

importance of not remaining sedentary, and all not allowing the past to define her future.

Granting all this, Remy’s happiness is evidenced in the strides she makes toward seeking a name
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for herself ultimately, not allowing her stint at Ravensbruck prevent her life from moving

forward..

While Remy’s happiness comes from an internal realization due to her posttraumatic

stress, Juliet’s happy mentality is a result her ability to take risks and branch out of her comfort

zone. Juliet Ashton epitomizes the idea of a fearless leader, whose happiness is displayed in her

actions, and overall personality. Juliet's leadership qualities prevail when she comforts the

readers of her column during the German occupation. Juliet is further able to develop her gift to

listen and comfort people, when she receives letters from the people of Guernsey. The multitude

of letters Juliet receives in the mail illustrate The Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler’s point that,

“the human bond is enough to give rise to a sense of worth and dignity. That bond can become a

source of consolation in the event that you lose everything else” (Cutler and The Dalai Lama 28).

The essence of the authors point, is that the human experience is incomparable to any possession;

and forming relationships, such as the ones Juliet made, allow individuals to still have a place to

turn to in times of sadness, when nothing else remains. Juliet found her “inner worth” (Cutler and

The Dalai Lama 28) through the friendships she made with the people of Guernsey. She was able

to provide “a source of consolation”(Cutler and The Dalai Lama 28) to the inhabitants of

Guernsey, ultimately giving happiness to herself by creating a “human bond” (Cutler and The

Dalai Lama 28) with her readers and citizens of Guernsey. In more general terms Juliet’s

happiness blossoms from providing comfort and support to individuals in need.

Juliet’s happiness not only comes from the bond she built with her community, but

additionally from the personal freedoms she’s attained by not taking anything personally. Two

letters in particular from Adelaide Addison, express dissatisfaction with Juliet as a writer and

individual. Up until Adelaide’s letter Juliet receives only positive correspondences from the
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people of Guernsey, however Adelaide “commands Juliet to put down her pen” (Shaffer and

Barrows 87). Nevertheless Juliet continues onward and persists in the writing. This idea of not

taking things personally and not giving up demonstrate her “growth mindset”. According to

Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, “Growth mindset lets people, even those who are targets of

negative labels, use and develop their minds fully. Their heads are not filled with limiting

thoughts, a fragile sense of belonging, and a belief that other people can define them” (Dweck

80). The essence of Dweck’s notion is that individual’s with a growth mindset allow insults fall

by the waist side, because they have realized the ultimate truth, that insults are a reflection of

others rather than themselves. Juliet puts herself in a vulnerable position by leaving her life she

was accustom to, in order to meet the people of Guernsey. Juliet demonstrates her growth

mindset tendencies in her state of new beginnings on the island, despite the comments hurled at

her by Adelaide Addison, she I able to hold her firm disposition, ultimately illustrating her

happiness. Juliet is able to uphold her happy mentality and ability to shrug off individuals’

perceptions of her during the course of her newfound identity as a caretaker, and friend on the

island. Juliet’s’ growth mindset commissions her happy status to shine from within.

The objection may arise that Juliet is actually unhappy because she believes that Dawsy

is in love with someone else. For a portion of the novel Juliet fumbles with this idea that Dawsy

is in love with Remy however, Juliet shows her confidence and happiness with her position in

life when she proposes to Dawsy Adams. This action exemplifies Juliet's security in herself,

which is a key component of her personality. This act reveals her inner happiness and confidence

with herself, by making such a bold move as to propose to a man during an era, when proposing

to a man is not an acceptable behavior according to society. Juliet does not lie to herself, this is

evident in her letter to Sophie in which she explains that she no longer has feelings for Mark
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Reynolds, but rather for Dawsy Adams (Shaffer and Barrows 190). Juliet holds true to her

feelings, and illustrates her happiness by not lying to herself, ultimately being impeccable with

her word to herself.

Remy Giraud and Juliet Ashton have very polar personalities, yet by the end of Mary

Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow’s novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the

two women achieve their own sense of personal freedom and happiness. Remy Giraud gains the

strength to chase after a career she dreamed of. Likewise, Juliet Ashton can be taken seriously as

a writer by the end of the novel through the story she writes about the people of Guernsey. The

duo of women create a life for themselves, not allowing the tragic post-WWII era they live in to

characterize their emotions. Juliet Ashton is able to use the time period as a transformational

tool, to unite the masses by writing about the people of Guernsey. Remy Giraud, uses her

experiences at the concentration camp to pursue a passion, embracing the life-is-too-short

mentality. These characters embody strong independent individuals that accredit their happiness

to their internal mentalities. They make the argument for happiness being internally generated

through the risks they take to unlock experiences and their ability hold true to their beliefs and

self-identities. Both women step out of their comfort zone inspiring readers of every age and

time; ultimately the pair of women achieve happiness by the end of the novel through their own

initiative and growth as individuals.

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Works Cited

Mineo, Liz. “Over Nearly 80 Years, Harvard Study Has Been Showing How to Live a

Healthy and Happy Life.” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 24 July 2018,

news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-

how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/.

Dweck, Carol. Mindset: the New Psychology of Success. Random House, 2016.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, The Source of Happiness. Pursuing Happiness, by:

Matthew Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.

Shaffer, Mary Ann, and Annie Barrows. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The Dial

Press, 2018.

Ricard, Matthieu The Alchemy of Suffering, by: Matthew Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St.

Martin’s, 2016.