Masterplots: Déjà vu and Memories of Happiness An analysis of masterplots and deja vu found in Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" and Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountain"

Masterplots: Déjà vu and Memories of Happiness Once upon a time, at sometime and someplace in their life, everyone has probably felt truly happy, free and alive. If not, they at least have an idea of what happiness is supposed to be like. The unfortunate thing is that due to circumstances, as humans living within the restrictions of society, we rarely are able to achieve this state and instead spend our lives trying to …

…as much as one might reminisce, it will never accomplish anything. The tragedy in both "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" and "Brokeback Mountain" is that the characters are unable to recapture their lost happiness and instead live in quiet despair. This only happens when people are unwilling or simply unable to fully pursue their dreams. People must constantly be in pursuit of happiness, or else be content to let their memories guide them through the day.