This Is Happiness

The history of Avalon House, where the Troy family now lives, is revealed. Before it became Avalon House, it was known as Penniworth’s Hotel, a halfway house for weary travelers. Mr. and Mrs. Penniworth had bought the building after the Henshawe family fled. The hotel was poorly maintained and gradually fell into disrepair. After the Penniworths passed away, Dr. Troy, a member of a prominent Dublin family, purchased the property and renamed it Avalon House. Dr. Troy’s son, Jack, followed in his father’s footsteps and became a doctor.

After the incident in which Noe broke his wrists, he wakes up in Avalon House, injured and disoriented. He encounters Sophie, Dr. Troy’s daughter, who tends to his injuries and offers him medication. Noe is captivated by Sophie’s beauty but feels overwhelmed by his perceived ugliness. Noe reflects on the profound impact that Sophie had on him, remembering that upon their first meeting, he resolved, “Right then, more than anything, […] to be a better version of myself” (205).

Ganga tells a story in a style that reflects the tradition of passing the time through telling stories, an activity that was prevalent in his youth. The dark and rainy environment of Faha adds a sense of drama to the atmosphere. According to Noe, stories in Faha are meant to compete with and distract from the stark nature of reality, and therefore they must never conclude, a requirement that renders each tale long and convoluted. Ganga opts for the baroque storytelling style, allowing him to indulge in a lyrical style that captures the true essence of life in Faha. He begins telling his story rapidly, using a single sentence filled with descriptions, adjectives, adverbs, similes, prepositions, and metaphors. The storytelling is urgent, exciting, and dangerous, reflecting the inner workings of Ganga’s mind. The sentence ends with Ganga relieved and his round smile returning.

Later, the story separates into a chronology of recent events in Faha and reveals that Noe injured his wrists when a pole fell. The story relates how Ganga and Christy rushed to the scene of the accident, and the doctor revived Noe. Now back in the present moment of the primary storyline, Ronnie, one of the Troy sisters, brings Noe tea. Ganga and Christy learn that Noe’s injuries are severe and that casts need to be made. Christy volunteers to go to the chemist, and the chapter ends with Christy facing Annie Mooney directly. However, the outcome of their meeting is left uncertain.

In this section, Noe reflects on his understanding of love and his infatuation with Sophie Troy. He recalls his childhood experience of loving a girl named Helen from afar without ever speaking to her. He contemplates the concept of love and how it is both revered and mysterious, existing in a realm separate from everyday life. In his narration, Noe acknowledges that love is both beautiful and challenging, with its contradictions and complexities. He shares his thoughts on the purpose of human beings, which he believes is to love.

In a continuation of the primary storyline, Dr. Troy takes the injured Noe back home. During the journey, Noe notices the world around him with newfound appreciation. Back at his grandparents’ house, he is examined by Doady, who is concerned about her grandson’s well-being. Mr. Rushe, an official from the Electricity Supply Board, arrives at the house and questions Noe about his involvement in the recent electrical-pole accident. Rushe then warns Noe that the board might hold him responsible for interrupting the work, causing a loss of a day and potentially putting the crew at risk unless he was unaware of the law. Under pressure, Noe admits that he was ignorant of the law, to which Rushe responds by dismissing the issue. Rushe departs the house, leaving a sense of unease lingering in his wake, along with the impression that the State has just invaded the family’s space.

Noe observes the aftermath of Rushe’s visit to his grandfather, Ganga. He reflects on how grandparents can seem unchanging and immune to the world’s troubles in their old age. Ganga leaves to talk with Bat Considine, who has newspapers for him. Noe and Christy remain at the table, and Noe tries to offer a match to Christy, but his injured wrists prevent him from doing so. They discuss Christy’s encounter with Annie. Christy reveals that when she filled the prescription, she recognized Christy but said only, “Wait here.” Noe is shocked by Annie’s response and feels as though he ruined the former couple’s reunion.

The town is experiencing sweltering weather, and preparations are made for a neighborhood meeting about electricity. A salesman named Moylan arrives to demonstrate new electrical machines. Noe notices the neighbors’ fascination with Moylan’s shoes and observes that the gathering consists mostly of women. Only two men, Bat and O Keefe, attend the meeting. Noe reflects on the peculiarities of Fahaean language and customs.

Noe reflects on his infatuation with Sophie Troy, one of Dr. Troy’s daughters. He finds solace in saying her name and daydreaming about her, even though they only have a slight acquaintance. He acknowledges the absurdity and the dangers of using the word “love” in this context, but he cannot deny his strong emotions for Sophie. Noe decides to attend Mass in hopes of seeing her. He fusses over his appearance, particularly his forgettable hair, and seeks advice from his grandfather, who advises him not to aim for perfection.

During Mass, he anxiously awaits the moment when Sophie steps forward to receive communion. Overwhelmed by his emotions, he impulsively joins the communion line and follows Sophie’s every move. After Mass, Noe hopes to catch Sophie’s attention but is disappointed when she leaves quickly with her father. Doady expresses her desire to buy a sliced pan, a type of bread, as she realizes the limitations of her traditional ways and becomes fascinated by the allure of modernity, leaving Ganga “trying to undo the knot of his brow” (253). At the same time, Noe continues to think about Sophie.

Noe continues to reflect on his youthful infatuation with Sophie Troy. Overwhelmed by his feelings, he is determined to spend his life close to her. In contrast, he also contemplates the past love between Christy and Annie Mooney. Christy, once vibrant and optimistic, is now defeated and sad. They discuss Annie, and Christy admits that he left her at the altar out of fear, as his love for her was overwhelming. Noe insists that Christy’s story cannot end until Annie forgives him. Meanwhile, the town indulges in afternoon siestas due to the intense heat, and Noe notes a few affairs happening. Later, as he and Christy lie in the grass, Noe reveals his love for Sophie Troy. Christy warns him that his love is likely doomed but encourages him to give it his all. They seek out the musician Junior Crehan, but despite their numerous pub visits, they never find him.

Mick Madigan is a fixture in the local theater group, the Faha Players, and despite the comedic nature of their latest play, “The Playboy,” he remains earnest in his approach to his role. The solemnity of his acting style echoes his perception of his life, which he sees as a tragedy. His wife, Sheila, supports him unwaveringly by helping him to learn his lines, reaffirming his abilities, and attending every performance. Despite repeated attempts by Master Quinn, the play director and leading man, to get Mick to play his parts with more levity, Mick remains committed to his gravely serious portrayal, much to the enjoyment of the locals, who appreciate his unique dramatic touch. Parallel to Mick’s story is that of Noe, who, like Mick, sees his own life as an earnest endeavor rather than a comedy. He details his quest to catch a glimpse of Sophie Troy by standing watch outside her home, Avalon House. Noe’s intentions are romantic, but he knows that his actions might be viewed as odd or worse. Nonetheless, he maintains his vigil, undeterred by Dr. Troy’s multiple derisive glances. Ultimately, Dr. Troy advises him to go home, not understanding or appreciating the depth of Noe’s feelings.

Noe experiences a mix of trepidation and resolution when he visits Annie Mooney to express a significant revelation: that Christy came to Faha specifically to see her and ask for forgiveness, despite knowing that she was already married. Noe attempts to persuade Annie that Christy’s intention is not foolish but noble. Annie, however, maintains that they are strangers now and that their past lives were lifetimes ago. Noe, insistent, tells her that Christy is seeking forgiveness for his past wrongs. This assertion seems to strike a chord in Annie, although she keeps her composure. Despite refusing to see Christy, Annie encourages Noe to visit her again. Noe leaves the encounter unsure whether his fervor should be pitied or praised.

Noe narrates another incident from his past. In this incident, he comes home from school to find that his mother has fallen and cannot get up. He struggles to lift her, his efforts hindered by her unexpected heaviness, his inexperience in handling such situations, and his shock at the intimate exposure of his mother’s vulnerability. This particular fall proves different, for it signifies a permanent shift in his mother’s health as she loses the power to walk.

Noe describes the event as a moment of profound realization and terror that remains etched in his memory for the rest of his life. The emotional rawness of the situation is heightened by his mother’s tears, her understanding of her condition, and her determination to hide her predicament from their neighbors due to shame. Noe’s father comes home and calls the doctor, and they carry Noe’s mother upstairs together. The reaction of Noe’s father to his wife’s condition hints at his own vulnerability. Noe’s father compares the situation to being struck by electricity, symbolizing the sudden and impactful change in their lives.

Workers from outside the community of Faha busily install cables, altering the rural landscape in a manner that the locals find both intriguing and unsettling, indicative of humanity’s imposition on nature. As the first artificial lines to appear in their skies, these cables profoundly impact the people and the natural world alike. Despite some resistance, the town gradually adapts to the change. Additionally, a character called “The German” is introduced: a solitary figure embraced by Ganga as a mutual friendship develops through a peculiar routine of bicycle repairs, despite the lack of a shared language between the two.

Noe decides to throw himself off the top of a staircase, called the Captain’s Ladder, in a symbolic act that he hopes will draw the attention of Sophie Troy. He imagines the pain and consequences of his actions, picturing his wrists snapping and the commotion that would follow his fall. However, as he steps off the stair, he realizes in midfall that he wants to save himself, thinking in a twist of logic that by doing so, he would also save his mother. Contrary to his expectations, his body instinctively protects his wrists, and his head takes the brunt of the impact.