Zelzah: A Tale From Long Ago By: Norma Fox Mazer

I find this story amazing. How Zelzah who doesn't complain about anything and does not ask for anything as well. Her sister, Ruth keep telling Zelzah that she want her to be happy and to be fair for her as well. Life is always not fair unless you make it fair. All of Zelzah's siblings got marry and have kids, but not Zelzah.

Zelzah like to explored herself in your lifetime journey as she stated how Grace would have done if she is still alive. Grace died after giving birth to a child by the father of Jake. Zelzah was suppose to marry Jake when she get to American in Vermont from Poland. Zelzah's Aunt promise that Jake will make her a good wife which Jake secretly wanting to marry Grace. Zelzah did request if Jake would not mind her to be his wife as Zelzah can help care for the child. Zelzah does not complain instead she laughed even when her Aunt apologize to her when things does not go as it plan. Why would she laugh? I think she laugh whatever that may went wrong that her family regret it but she didn't because she does not complain. I guess. After that she work her way up to her goal as she received education through high school and college. She worked at the textile. She traveled like she said she want to and she became a teacher loving to teach young kids. Ruth does not understand how Zelzah was able to put up with it like one part of the story when Ruth could not bear to work at the textile factory. Zelzah seemed to just appreciate her life no matter what happen. Before I make it sound like if Zelzah already intrigue into American culture, really it take time for Zelzah to get used with American cultures to learned their languages, money system, phrases, and behavior. Zelzah was originally raised in Poland and spoke in Yiddish language.

What actually hit me hard was the last part of the story as it stated:

"Was she happy? Who could say? Zelzah, herself, never thought in such terms. What was happiness? Did anyone know?"

You probably would have heard that some people are searching for their own happiness but is that the purpose of life to search for one's happiness? In my opinion I think Zelzah is at least satisfy with her life but I could not say for sure or maybe just being grateful for what she have. I think people have their own definition for their own happiness. This could be one of the reason that people who tend to have too much high expectation for themselves or goal would try to aim for their happiness than those people who do not.

What would be your definition of happiness? Or do anyone believe in any type of purpose of life that each individuals must contain?