Character Analysis Of Hector In 'His World Was Tidy, Uncomplicated'

Dennis Prager said “Happiness is dependent on self-discipline. We are the biggest obstacles to our own happiness. It is much easier to do battle with society and with others than to fight our own nature.” Hector notices the repetitiveness of his life and it angers him. ”His world was tidy, uncomplicated” Does the way Hector live makes him happy? Can Hector say his life doesn’t include any regrets? Everyday Hector seems to go through the motion, but “never seem to be authentic”. Slowly but surely Hectors anger leaks out until he snaps on one of his patients. Hector knows he needs to fight his own nature and that he needs to take a journey. He intends to cut the rope and own it. Hectors journey begins as a pursuit for happiness, but it enables
him to learn much more important views on life. On his journey he learns the false perception of happiness, happiness through fear, and love.
Hector intends to make this trip to China successful and find what makes people happy. Hector learns that “A lot of people think happiness is being rich or important.” Hector meets Edward and he establishes himself as an uptight businessman. Hector tells Edward that he intends to find what makes people happy on this trip to China.Hector still doesn’t forget his reason for this trip and pops the question. “Are you happy?” Edward explains that retirement and enjoying life tends to bring in happiness for people. Edward lives a successful life and makes plenty of money so retiring doesn’t entice him. Edward intends to show Hector what China can offer with some money. Hector learns “Many people see happiness only in their future”. People prolong happiness because they intend to receive it later instead of living in the moment. Ying Li a student majoring Tourism confronts Hector. Hectors night now opens up to new opportunities and he starts to enjoy his night with Ying Li. Hector really falls in love with Ying Li but he hasn’t forgotten about his love at home Clara. He learns “Happiness could be the freedom to love more than one woman at the same time.” That ideal also helps him suppress his guilt of also loving Ying Li.Hector during lunch learns that the beautiful Ying Li ends up being too good to be true. Ying Li’s boss shows up and Hector finds out that Ying Li provides escort service to many people. This love that could have been, doesn’t exist. The despair on his face as he feels betrayed and slapped by Ying Li. Hector sadly learns” Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story”. Hector continues his journey up to a monastery in the mountains. Even though one of the monks stood persistent declaring the monastery closed he meets up with the monk in charge and learns words of wisdom. Hector expresses his confusion by his statements and states “You’ve been a fugitive for your beliefs; you’ve lost family and friends. You have been through so much. How are you happy?” The monk has been through so much yet he stays optimistic because he has been through so much already. Don’t avoid happiness, just accept it and move forward. Hector learns “Avoiding unhappiness is not the road to happiness. “While on a Skype call in the mountains with Clara a sudden gust knocks over the satellite. The monk rushes to call for Hector to view the hanging banners blowing in the wind. Hector learns that even the simplest actions can bring happiness. Edward, Ying Li and the old monk teaches Hector a lot in this trip to China. Hector’s visit to China helps him realize the false perception of happiness.
Hector realizes that through fear he can experience happiness.
Hector receives caution from the airports front desk, but he stays determine to reach Africa. Hector aboard the plane to Africa and he now fully understands the precaution. The fear that he expresses catches the eye of Sweet Potato Stew lady. She starts to talk to Hector, but she doesn’t express any fear even though plane feels like it can go down any minute from now. “If you look at this plane it quite old, that mean it never crashed before. Should be quite reassuring” she said. Even through the uncertainty of the plane ride, the potato stew lady tries to comfort Hector. Hector jots down “Does the person you’re with bring you predominately A) Up or B) Down?” Hector learns that even through all the tribulation, you have to surround yourself with people that will bring you predominately up. She lets Hector know that tomorrow will come. Potato Stew lady even promises Hector sweet potato stew if they land safely. Hector gets to the hotel and goes for a drink at the bar. He sees Diego Baresco a local drug dealer. As a psychiatrist, Hector instinctively ask a series of questions which makes him seem suspicious to Diego. Diego roughs him up to see if he has on a wire. Hector puts the pieces together and now grasp the reason for Diego being in Africa. Hector ask “How do you feel happiness knowing you bring other people unhappiness” Diego doesn’t believe in happiness because his wife struggles with depression. Hector
wants to learn what medication she takes for her depression because he genuinely wants to help. Diego doesn’t believe such ideals exist, but Hector intends to use his skills for greater good. Hector borrow Diego pen so that he can jot down information relating to the dose of the prescription drugs and hopes it helps. Hector learns “Happiness is answering your calling.” Even though Diego roughs him up, Hector uses his skills in hope of gaining Diego’s happiness. Hector visit Sweet Potato Stew lady for her promise of sweet potato stew and they enjoy their time together. On the way back to the hotel, robbers kidnap Hector. Hector learns” Fear is an impediment to happiness.” Even though he tries to discuss his side of the story he gets locked into total isolation in a cell. Hector rations his handy trouble candy and meets a friendly rat. While going through all of this Hector begins think about everything that could have been but that’s cut short as they come to get him. Hector implies that he know Diego Baresco and that he made a promise to help him. Hector cannot find a way to prove that he knows Diego Baresco so the execution continues. Hector through all of this still doesn’t forgets his task and asks “What your personal idea of happiness?” as a dying wish. Hector pulls out his pen to write it down for prosperity, but then he realizes that the pen belongs to Diego. This proof automatically shakes the kidnappers and they drop Hector on the side of the rode. Hector face shows his surprise as he walks then run hysterically. Hector learns “Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.” Even through all that just happened, he runs to the nearest town and celebrates his freedom. He learns that even through hardship you have to celebrate. For someone who stays away from dancing, Hector lives in the moment and dances the night away. Hector realizes that through fear you can experience happiness.
Hector realizes that through this whole journey love remains the top priority and possess the key to his happiness.
On the way to Los Angeles, Hector helps relieve the pain of Jamila. She recently received procedure on her brain tumor and can’t take the pressure from the altitude of the plane. Hector as a great samaritan tells the captain to lower the plane and he brings her up to first class. Jamila has experienced hardship throughout her life. Hector carefully listens to her story and sympathies with her hardship. The plane lands and the Hector tells the ambulance not to take her to the hospital, but to her sister’s house. As she rolls away on the stretcher, Jamila expresses gratitude to Hector for listening to her. Hector learns that “Listening is Love”. Hector just met Jamila yet by genuinely listening to her, he lets himself into the hardship. A skill and lesson that can help make his job easier as a psychiatrist. Hector goes to Santa Monica beach to reminisce and he meets Agnes an old flame. Agnes sets up a meeting for Hector to meet Dr. Coreman. Dr. Coreman studies different emotions and the process within the brain. On the way to the meeting Hector discusses about “what could have been”. Agnes explains that she not a prize that he can come back to and that she did love Hector, but not anymore. Hector learns “Nostalgia is not what it used to be”. Hector always holds the thought that he can go back, but in reality he can’t. The loving feeling he believes he can
escape too doesn’t exist. Dr.Corman’s agreement with Agnes to meet Hector now makes her his test dummy for his experiment. Agnes must walk into an isolated room and put on a helmet. “Think of things that make you happy, sad and scary in any order”. Dr.Cormans machine allows him to see different emotion in different colors. Hector then enters the room after Agnes and puts on the helmet. Hector tries his best, but his emotions seem suppressed. Hector receives a call from Clara and his feelings start to fluctuate. “I want to be a mother but not with you” Hector hears these words and learns the thought of losing Clara really hurts him. He wants to grow as a man to stand next to Clara and he proceeds to express his love for Clara. ”So is this a good phone call?” Hector learns to free his emotions and his eyes to finally open up to true happiness. “I never seen this before” The emotions causes an explosion of different colors in his brain.” Can you bring me to the airport?” Hector realizes that yes this journey brought incite, but his true happiness starts with Clara at home.
Hectors journey initially about trying to find what make people happy turned into a life journey with multiple life lessons. Hector learns plenty in his trip to China, Africa and Los Angeles. In China, Hector’s intentions seems clear, but he learns the false perception of happiness through Edward, Ying Li and the Old monk. Without this journey would Hector learn all these lessons?