Happy Place

Harriet, the story’s protagonist, needs to experience growth to become her best self and rekindle her love with Wyn. She’s a driven, brilliant, indecisive, conflict-averse, selfless, thoughtful, and empathetic 30-year-old woman who often puts the needs of others before her own—a quality highlighted in numerous scenes. For instance, Harriet enters medical school not because she has a passion for surgery, but to help others and please her parents after they sacrificed so much time, money, and personal dreams to help her attend college: “They’ve done everything. Shelled out for tutors, paid the fees for every club I signed up for, chauffeured me back and forth, helped me study when they were dead tired from work, cosigned my med school loans” (244-46). Because she wants to repay her parents out of guilt, Harriet can’t admit she isn’t happy in this career; she’s ashamed medicine isn’t making her feel fulfilled but terrified of performing surgery.

Harriet’s conflict-avoidance stems from her childhood. Since she grew up in a household that used yelling and silence to fight, she believes conflict cannot solve problems. Instead, it’s easier to ensure everyone is content, to keep tempers even. Thus, Harriet always tamps down her own negative emotions and intercedes between Sabrina and Cleo when they bicker.