Too often, those who have little money envy those who have more. This is depicted in “Richard Cory” written by Edwin Arlington Robinson, the narrator describes Richard as if he were royalty; rich, worldly, well-spoken and educated (677). He wished he could be Richard and live with all the pleasures available to the rich. Is it possible that Richard had the opposite in mind when he ended his life? Money seems to be a key that unlocks happiness for people on the lower end of the financial spectrum. If this were the case, then those who are well off should be significantly happier. Studies provide conflicting evidence for a possible link between wealth and happiness, but for people on the lowest incomes, the link does exist. Although the problems plaguing the rich are different, they also struggle to be satisfied. Humans are inherently competitive, always have been and always will be. This applies to all aspects of our lives, starting from a young age. At school we compete to have more friends, get better grades, become better athletes, and the list goes on. The goal is to be the best, have the most and win the most. We're just beginning to prepare for our competition of a lifetime with the Joneses. That is, trying to accumulate a level of wealth and social status equal to or greater than that of other people in our environment. The belief being that happiness comes from having more. Studies show that fifteen percent more rich people report being “very happy” than poor people. This gap has persisted over the years, with the percentages not changing while the observed incomes for each group have all increased dramatically (Layard 25). This shows that as individual income and wealth increase, happiness does not increase with it. If happiness depended... middle of paper ... on being rich, without having to worry about food, bills, etc.? Lane also made these observations; “Money doesn’t reduce worry; it just changes the subject” (59). Having always believed that more money would bring more happiness, why do people continue to fall into the trap? Happiness and satisfaction come from somewhere within ourselves, there are no other sources. Works CitedCarver, Raymond. “What we talk about when we talk about love.” Literature and the writing process 2011. Ed. Viviane Garcia. Pearson, 2011. 348-356. Print. Lane, Robert E. Public Interest Fall 1993: 56-65. PrintLayard, Richard. New Statesman March 3, 2003: 25-29. Print Luscombe, Belinda. “Do we need $75,000 a year to be happy? Time September 27, 2010: 1. Print “Money Can’t Buy You Joy.” US News and World Report July 2010: 1. Print