<pre><code>It is often said that money makes the world go round. But why is there such a relentless human desire for wealth? Perhaps the convenience that it brings to our lives, be it in housing, food, entertainment. But changes in our lives that make them “easier” can actually have hidden, deleterious effects as well. Myriad examples from literature and current events illustrate the debilitating effects that such changes can have on social relationships and personal happiness or fulfillment.
The novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, outlines the negative effects that wealth, a purported source of happiness and convenience, can have on a person’s values and relationships. Pip, the protagonist, grows up poor and falls in love with Estella, the daughter of the ostentatious, rich Miss Havisham, and eventually becomes indignant and abashed of his lack of wealth; thus, he aspires to become an English “gentleman” with an education and wealth. After fulfilling his dream by the aid of an unknown rich benefactor, Pip becomes rich and hopes to marry Estella with his nascent, elevated social status, but discovers that she never was planning on marrying him and already married someone else. In the process of becoming a “gentleman,” Pip had lost his loving, caring family and friends whom he left behind, as well as Estella. Thus, Changes in our lives such as increases in wealth do not necessarily mean happiness; it can actually deteriorate relationships and skew moral values.
Moreover, another example evincing these harmful effects is hikikomori, a phenomenon found in many technologically advanced countries such as Japan. Hikikomori are shut-in adults, defined to have not left the house in over six months, not primarily due to mental illness, but mostly due to addiction to technology and thus a loss of social skills. According to statistics by the Japanese government, around 1% of its total population, around 1 million people, are hikikomori. Japan, a country known for its great advancements in technology, harbors the highest number of hikikomori in the world–not an achievement. Thus, the hikikomori phenomenon reveals the setbacks of convenient changes and technological advancements on social relationships.
Another examples comes from the high depressions and suicide rates of the rich and famous. For example, Amy Winehouse, a wildly successful pop singer, committed suicide at the tender age of 27 after the overwhelming success and fame. Although it appeared that she must’ve been ecstatic due to her newfound wealth and status, the stress and incredible changes to her life drove her to turn to substance abuse and eventual suicide. Robin Williams, another rich and successful actor, had a similar story and committed suicide in 2014 after a long battle with depression. Thus, wealth can indeed cause a lack of personal happiness or cause depression.
Hikikomori, Great Expectations, and celebrities reveal how, indeed, changes that make our lives easier don’t always engender healthy relationships, happiness, or fulfillment.
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<p>Thank you! And any tips? P.S. it fills up both pages fully.</p>