The Theme of 'The Setting Sun and the Rolling World'

Happiness is truly a feeling that everyone gets. Whether it’s getting that favorite game or a new car, the way people see happiness can be different than others. The pursuit of happiness is what inspires true happiness and that is something indescribable. In Charles Mungoshi short story, “the setting sun and the rolling world”, he describes two different perspectives of happiness. The perspective of old Musoni and his son, Nhamo. Mungoshi’s most important theme is that one’s pursuit of happiness can give someone pain. Three important examples support this. The first is Nhamo and his father, old Musoni, arguing about Nhamo’s decision. The second is old Musoni’s fear for his son in the big world. The third is old Musoni’s emotional approval for his son. These examples would demonstrate and help with the idea of the theme.

The pursuit of happiness is a long way. But for Nhamo, he finds it difficult since the hardest obstacle standing in his way is his father. Old Musoni just wants what right for his son but Nhamo wants what makes him happy. When Nhamo mentions leaving to his father, he gets very angry. “But this would be the last day he would talk to his son” (pg.1). Old Musoni’s harshness on his own son is because of his mistakes and past experiences. “He himself had taken chances before, in his own time, but he felt too much of a father” (Pg.1). What old Musoni doesn’t realize is that Nhamo probably won’t make the same mistakes from his father and he deserves some freedom. However, old Musoni pays no heed to that. Unfortunately, the path of happiness is a difficult way for Nhamo.

It is normal for parents to being protective over their children. However, being overprotective is just bad for the children. Nhamo has an overprotective father who just doesn’t know when to let go. Old Musoni fears death and being unemployed from his son. “Think again. You will end dead”(Pg.1). Nhamo is already aware of the consequence but insists he’d find better work and