How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live. (2.11)
Equality 7-2521's love for Liberty 5-3000 makes life itself feel much more worthwhile: it makes him happy. If love makes him feel as if "the earth is good and…it is not a burden to live," what does that mean about how he felt before?
Quote #5
We are singing because we are happy," we answered the one of the Home Council who reprimanded us.
"Indeed you are happy," they answered. "How else can men be when they live for their brothers?" (2.39-2.40)
Equality 7-2521 is reprimanded (just like International 4-8818 was) for showing signs of spontaneous happiness. Here the contradiction we mentioned earlier is explicit. Equality 7-2521 is reprimanded for singing for no reason, as a sign of happiness, as if it were a bad thing to be happy. Yet clearly he's also expected to be happy because everyone is expected to be happy.
Quote #6
It is forbidden, not to be happy. For, as it has been explained to us, men are free and the earth belongs to them; and all things on earth belong to all men; and the will of all men together is good for all; and so all men must be happy. (2.41)
In fact, not only is everyone expected to be happy: everyone is commanded to be happy. There's something ridiculously absurd about that. How can one be commanded to be happy? Is happiness something a person can control? And is commanding it more or less likely to make it happen?