1. Who is Zadie Smith, and why should we pay attention to her essay?

Zadie Smith is an English novelist, essay and short story writer. Like all of us, we have certain experiences and interpretations of joy and what it means to us. Zadie is another perspective that can give unique insight to our own understanding of joy. 

  1. In what ways does Smith “distinguish between joy and pleasure” and how do these distinctions match up with your own interpretations of the two experiences?

Smith distinguishes between joy and pleasure in a deep but true way. When we experience pleasure, Smith believes it “brings no great harm to anyone” and can always “be replaced with another of more or less equal worth” (335). To the contrary, joy is something that “hurts as much as it is worth” (Smith 335). Joy is what it means to us and who we share it with according to Smith. Pleasure is less of a commitment than joy. These distinctions match up with my own interpretations of the two experiences. I define something that is pleasurable as short term, and joy as something or someone that leaves a lasting impact.

  1. According to Smith, why is joy difficult to manage, and live with? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Practice using a complete Quote Sandwich (utilizing a direct quote from the essay) within your response.

According to Smith, joy is difficult to manage and live with due to the repercussions it brings. It is a choice we make and who we make it with. Looking objectively, Smith asks the reader “Why would anyone accept such a crazy deal?” (Smith 335). Why would anyone decide to have and live in joy knowing the hurt it may bring? This deal seems that of “human madness” (Smith 335). The joy we have with others on Earth will eventually be lost, as our time here is not infinite. I agree with Smith’s interpretation of joy, in the reality that the sooner we accept it the sooner we can appreciate it. 

  1. In a well-developed paragraph, respond to the following question: What’s the value of reading about, thinking about, and discussing joy?

Why have joy in the first place if you know it won’t last forever? Well, that’s the beauty in having joy in the first place. The fact that you know our shared experiences with others on the planet will not last forever embraces you in the reality to make the most of every opportunity you have to experience joy while you can. The value of reading, thinking and discussing joy is that it brings us back to the reality that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Smith reminds us clearly that those we have experienced genuine joy with, “will eventually be lost” (335). However, if we live in constant fear of not getting attached, we will never feel joy. How can we give joy if we have never felt what it’s like to experience it ourselves?

  1. How does Smith’s essay overlap or connect or contradict previous readings from this semester?

As I was writing my response to question 4, I realized a connection between having joy and living with empathy, specifically shown in David Foster Wallace’s Speech, “This is Water”. In order to live with joy, we must live with shared experiences with those we love and care about. 

The choices we choose to make, choosing to take our innate focus off ourselves, and the values we live by what we worship influence the kind of joy we have with those around us. Joy and empathy work hand in hand. If we are only living in shallow pleasure, we will never be able to feel true empathy for the fear of getting hurt when life happens. However, If we live true to our beliefs with an understanding of what may come, that is when we learn to be able to really feel for and put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.