Happiness Falls Literary Elements

Mystery

Set in 2020 in Northern Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First-person narrative

The tone is warm, and the mood is idyllic.

The central character is Mia, and the antagonist is Adam Parkson.

The major conflict is between Mia and her father. Mia’s father doubts her predictions, assertions, and critical thinking.

The climax comes when the team of investigators finds Adam's knapsack that contains his scientific research materials about happiness. The scientific research materials help the police know why Adam never returned home from the morning hike.

Hannah’s busy schedule foreshadowed Adam’s decision to quit his career and become a stay-at-home dad to become the primary caregiver of the disabled child, Eugene.

Parksons underestimates Eugene's intelligence and the ability to communicate.

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Mia describes her feelings using imagery when she says, “I felt myself shrinking, and the space between the atoms in my body narrowing, shortening, producing heat that encircled me.” Mia says these words after Eugene accuses her of doubting his ability to communicate and understand his surroundings.

The primary paradox in the novel is when Adam leaves his family to go and live with his son's therapist, Anjeli. The reader expects Adam to be close to his disabled son, who has developed a strong bond with him.

There is a parallelism between Mia’s emotions about the outcome of her father’s disappearance and the investigators’ conclusion that Adam is still alive somewhere with another woman.

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Adam’s knapsack is personified when the detectives say it will cooperate and give them clues about Adam’s disappearance.