The Nature of Happiness

Throughout "American Express," readers might be confused by the extent to which the author refuses to dwell on any particular events in Alan and Frank's lives; the narration rarely delves so deep as to communicate how they feel about the things that are happening to them, and rarely lingers on any particular event for long before moving onto the next. As such, the story often challenges readers to speculate how Alan and Frank feel, approaching each plot point with a type of journalistic narration that forces the reader to determine what is most important in the story. The effect of this narrative structure helps cast doubt in readers' minds over how fulfilled Frank and Alan actually are by the lives they lead. While they stay in nice hotels, enjoy lavish meals, and sleep with as many women as they please, their narration undermines...