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Maria Alvarado
Professor Ditch
English 113B
2 April 2015
Adapting to life
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows in the epistolary novel, The Guernsey Literary and
Potato Peel Pie Society, assert that many of the struggling islanders, who faced food shortages,
are able to adapt and make use of every single thing given to them. The islanders take their
creativity to another level by manufacturing soap bars from pigs fat, and demonstrate their
generosity when sharing with the people in the society. Regardless of limitations, the islanders
are able to maintain a happy life. Shaffer and Barrows novel supports the evidence through
letters that the characters send to each other, which informs the reader about the necessities
Juliet, Dawsey, and the book club lacked and demonstrates adaptability as well as character
strength. Because the novel takes place during World War II, the characters in the novel are
obligated to live with limitations. All of the resources are given to the German soldiers who are
valued more during the war. The limitations force the islanders to find way to survive with the
recourses they are given but later in the book it illustrates they can reach happiness regardless of
how little they have.
Throughout the novel the reader is able to see how social class determines who is in
power. The Germans are prioritized during war and are given supplies that the islanders require,
late in 1944, it didnt matter what time the Germans set the curfew for. Most people went to bed
around five oclock anyway to keep warm. We were rationed to two candles a week and then

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only one. It was mighty tedious, lying up in bed with no lights to read by (Shaffer 64). Even
though the islanders found it dreary not to have any access to light, it became part of their daily
routine and they adapted to the idea of not having light. It does not necessarily mean they are
satisfied, but rather that they know they cannot do anything about the situation. Fortunately, the
potato peel pie society gave them hope and motivation to move forward in their lives, distracting
them from reality. The potato peel pie society became a huge part of the islanders life and
became each others support system. The potato peel pie society also helped a character break
out of his shell and allowed him to grow as a person. This character had many reasons to give up
on life, due to his poverty, but instead was enlightened by the society.
In the novel Dawsey portrays himself as a shy but caring person. Dawsey constantly finds
ways to ease the shortages the islanders face. In a letter from Dawsey to Juliet, Dawsey explains
the situation with the limited soap bars and lets her know how one tablet per month is not enough
for a person to bath, let alone to wash clothes and dishes. The Islanders got used to being more
or less dirty, along with their clothes. Dawsey is aware that one bar of soap is not enough; he
then decides to make soap out of a dead pig, which died from milk fever and that no one dared to
eat. His creativity came out and began to make the soap and added paprika and cinnamon to give
the soap a nice scent. He has a special quality that makes him unique, and it stands out when he
shares, despite his poverty because it proves he is not selfish. People might assume that a person
who is in poverty would be mad at life, but Dawsey does not let his status affect his life. In the
novel, he is looked up to for guidance and because of his humbleness, it is easy for him to
connect to other people in the island and in the potato peel pie society. Dawsey does not let his
social class define him and is able to move on by looking for solutions to his problems.

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Furthermore, in the documentary Happy Roko Bellic illustrates the lives of people around
the world and shares what makes them happy. For every person, happiness comes from different
forms. For instance, the life of Monoj Ringh, a rig shaw driver, who lives in poor conditions in
Kolkata Slum, India, considers himself to be happy. His job requires driving a three wheeler rig
shaw on his back with passengers and take them to their destination. His works consists of
working in the hot summer days where he can be exposed to skin cancer and also during the
winter where he is exposed to getting severe colds. Despite the conditions he lives in, including
a house whose doors and windows are missing and practically only eats rice with salt every day,
Manoj claims his family is his happiness: When I see my childs face I feel very happy. I feel
that I am not poor, but the richest person. He also shares that his neighbors help one another and
are the people who keep their lives going. Much like the novel, the potato peel pie society
provides long lasting relationships and are able to live happy lives despite their situation. While
Monoj children enrich his life, books on the other hand, are what make the islanders feel
enriched and happy. Like the documentary, the islanders depend on one another and prove they
are there unconditionally.
Similarly to with the novel, The Secondhand Bookseller by Marina Nemat is a short
story whose protagonist demonstrates determination. Marina has a passion for reading but the
lack of money in her family prevents her from buying books. She is aware that her mother cannot
give her money to buy books when she pleases. Marina then looks for ways to obtain what she
wants. In a desperate time, she decided to sell her crayon box to a friend in order to buy a book.
Much like the novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Marina has to adapt to
limitations. One day, I gathered all my courage and asked my mother if she would buy me
books; and she said she could buy me only `one book a month because books were expensive

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and we couldnt spend all of our money on them (1). Both Marina and people in the potato peel
pie society have found ways to distract their minds from reality and books are way to escape
from troubles. Both Marina and the islanders found hope and happiness through books, which
lead to them
Others may argue that happiness does come from having a nice lifestyle that includes
money, cars, clothing, and homes. These people argue that money is what makes them happy. In
the novel, Mark Reynolds is an American publisher who is educated, has a job, and is well
dressed. On the other hand, Dawsey is a pig farmer who looks for ways to live day by day.
Dawsey Adams and Mark Reynolds are two different men who belong to different social classes.
Unlike Dawsey, Mark seemed to have not been affected by the shortages. In the novel, both
Dawsey and Mark fall in love with Juliet. Mark approaches Juliet by buying her flowers and
taking her to fancy restaurants. Although at first Juliet enjoys his gifts, she then realizes that
Mark has nothing else to offer her. Conversely, Dawsey approaches Juliet in a way he does not
notice. Juliet is attracted to the way he is, taking care of the society and looking out for a child
whose parents are dead. The relationships in the novel prove that money and/ or social status
cannot be the main factor in a relationship. A personality is by far the richest trait anyone could
have. Dawsey and Juliet find happiness and the companion of one another help them to do better
not only for themselves but for Kit, whom they have taken under their wings. Kit symbolizes a
new start and motivation for Dawsey and Juliet.
Likewise, in the article If We Are So Rich, Why Arent We Happy? by Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi argues that a person who is considered to be rich is always looking for ways to
better his economic status. People do not conform to what they have and always want more
making it hard to reach happiness: The third reason is that even though being rich and famous

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might be rewarding, nobody has ever claimed that material rewards alone are sufficient to make
us happy (823). Money can lead to stability but it is not enough to be happy. Just like Mark who
is in a decent social class, it was not enough for Juliet, not because of the money but because he
did not have anything else that separated him internally. Much like the novel, the islanders are
able to say that the potato peel pie society brings happiness to their lives: Other conditions-such
as a satisfying family life, having intimate friends, having time to reflect and pursue diverse
interest have been shown to be related to happiness (823). Also, The Fund, Friends, and Faith
of People is another article that agrees that even though money is a factor that can lead to
satisfaction, it does not guarantee happiness: Even very rich people are slightly happier than the
average American (59). This quote means that a person could have all the money in the world
and still have the same opportunities to reach happiness as the poor and that money barely makes
them reach happiness. Dawsey and Juliet are able to live a happy life despite the limitations and
shortages they are facing.
Although many of the struggling islanders had to face hardships, they are able to work
around their troubles and create a positive outlook on life, as opposed to being angry at life.
Dawsey, Juliet, and Elizabeth are examples of character strength. Dawsey constantly finding
ways to ease problems, Juliet takes part in writing about the society give people motivation, and
Elizabeth portrayed attitude and braveness. These qualities give the society power and
motivation to overcome any obstacle that went their way. Juliet and Dawsey show that people
are what make them happy. Even if Mark Reynolds had all the money in the world, it would not
be enough to be happy. Because of Juliet rejection he probably will not be able to find real
love that can lead to internal happiness. For example, in the novel and film the reader was able to

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see that even though the acquired things, books and family were their way of maintaining a
happy life.

Works cited
Barrows, Annie, Shaffer, Mary. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. United
States: Dial Press, 2008.print
Bullock, Richard H. Marina Nemat The Secondhand Bookseller The Norton Field Guide to
writing. New York: W.W Norton, 2009. N. pag. Print
Happy. Dir. Roko Bellic. Wadi Rum productions. 2011. Film
Csikszentmihaly, Mihaly. If We Are So Rich, Why Arent We Happy? American psychologist
54(1999):821-827.web. 1 April 2015.
Myers, David G. The funds, friends, and faith of happy people. American Psychologists
55(2000):56-67. Web. 1 April 2015.