Anyone ever said to you don't worry, be happy? It's easier said than done sometimes, right? This is especially when it comes our main guy Colin in An Abundance of Katherines—he can't be happy because the love of his life dumps him again and again. He's down in the dumps when we meet him, and he pretty much stays that way for the first half of the book. We can't help but wonder whether Colin likes being this mopey—after all, for most of the book he's pretty dedicated to leading a Katherine-centric life, no matter how down it makes him feel or how devoid of Katherines his life may be at the time.
Questions About Happiness
- What makes Colin unhappy? Is he really depressed because of the Katherines, or is something else getting him all depressed?
- How do characters define happiness in the novel? Are Hassan and Lindsey happy? Why or why not?
- Can Colin ever be happy? Even after he's solved the Katherines theorem and moved on from K-19, do we see him happy?
Chew on This
Colin likes being down in the dumps because he doesn't know how to be happy.
In the end, Colin is happy because he's moved on from K-19 and is dating Lindsey.