The Happy Man's Shirt '

In The Happy Man’s Shirt, one major theme within the passage is that true happiness can only come to those who appreciate what little they have. In the text, a king’s son is unhappy because he feels incomplete, despite being a prince. Due to his son’s great anguish, the king calls the most advanced philosophers, doctors, and professors; all tell the king that he must find a man that is happy, through and through, and place the happy man’s shirt on his son. The king then sends his men all around the world in search of a truly happy man when he comes across a priest, “ ‘Are you happy?’ asked the king. ‘Yes, indeed, Majesty.’ ‘Fine. How would you like to be my bishop?’ ‘Oh, Majesty, if only it were so!’ ‘Away with you! Get out of my sight! I’m
Even though he has everything anyone could ever strive for, he still contains great selfishness within his heart, forever blocking his way of true happiness. At his wit’s end, the king went hunting; during his hunt, he came to an open field where a man could be heard singing. He followed the sound and found the happy man in a vineyard, pruning the vines; there he briefly talks to him and finds he his a truly happy man. “ ‘Much obliged, Majesty, but I wouldn’t even consider it. I wouldn’t even change places with the Pope.’ ‘Why not? Such a fine young man like you…’ ‘No, no, I tell you. I’m content with just what I have and want nothing more.’” (Author 1). The man in the vineyard may not have much, as evidence by him doing such a lowly task, but demonstrates the characteristics of being truly happy. The man is content with what little he has, it is even revealed later on that he does not even possess a shirt, and sings with all his heart despite all his hardships. Overall, The Happy Man’s shirt demonstrates how one can only be truly happy by appreciating what little they have through greedy and humble characters’ actions and